Handout photo released by the Olympic Information Services (OIS) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of Argentinian former tennis player and Olympic medallist, Tennis Role Model and Mentor for Buenos Aires 2018 Gabriela Sabatini, waving to the crowd during the Tennis Men's Doubles Final at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, Green Park, during the Youth Olympic Games, in Buenos Aires, on Oct 14, 2018. (FLORIAN EISELE / OIS/IOC / AFP)

BUENOS AIRES - Argentinian tennis great Gabriela Sabatini has cast doubt over whether the professional tennis circuit will resume this year amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Sabatini said the sport must address other priorities before restarting its packed international calendar, possibly in 2021.

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"In the coming months I think it will be difficult to hold any sporting event," Sabatini told the Subidos a la Red podcast, published on Sunday.

"I have my doubts that something can be done this year in tennis," added the 49-year-old, who retired in 1996 after a career that included the 1990 US Open title and 11 Grand Slam singles semifinal appearances.

In the coming months I think it will be difficult to hold any sporting event. I have my doubts that something can be done this year in tennis

Gabriela Sabatini

The professional tennis season was suspended in mid-March, in line with recommendations from the World Health Organization. Tennis governing bodies, the ATP and WTA, have since announced that the recess will extend until at least June 7.

Last week, Wimbledon was canceled for the first time since World War II, while the French Open has also been shifted from May to late September.

"It's difficult to think about the future and what may happen because precisely what you have to try is to avoid a lot of people coming together and in all these events that happens," Sabatini said.

"This is a bit desperate. You don't know how or when it will end and even though we always like to think about the future, now we cannot do that. The good thing is that we are all facing the same situation because it is global, so the important thing now is to stay at home and keep healthy."

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Sabatini, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 3 in February 1989, said the tennis world needed to act responsibly, "because that's the best way to help each other."

"This would also be eating away at me if were still a player, because there's no way to hit the ball or practice. But that's why you have to be calm, reset everything and say that we are all in it together."

In this March 1, 2020 photo, Brazil's Thiago Seyboth Wild holds the trophy after after winning the ATP World Tour Santiago Open 2020 final match against Norway's Casper Ruud in Santiago. (CLAUDIO REYES / AFP)