“I Am Not Okay With Playing Without Fans” – Rafael Nadal

The tennis season came to a standstill in early-March due to the outbreak of coronavirus all around the globe. However, the governing bodies of tennis are trying every possible way to resume the tour. One of the alternatives is to play behind closed doors. However, World No.2 Rafael Nadal is not keen on playing tennis without fans but admits that it is necessary to play in empty stadiums.

Earlier, Roger Federer also revealed that he does not want to play tennis without fans. He explained that it is difficult for him to play without any audience. Subsequently, the Swiss maestro insisted on competing with at least one-third of stadiums full.

“I want to play with the fans” – Rafael Nadal

Nadal is on the same page as Federer. However, he explains that this probably is the future prospect for tennis and he will adjust to this situation if necessary.

“Well, for me it is always the feeling of competing in front of the people. The feeling when you go out and see a full crowd supporting, screaming. That’s always for me the most special feeling. That’s the main thing,” Nadal told Barbara Schett on Eurosport.

“Coming back without a crowd I think will be tough and strange. Hopefully, it will not happen, but sadly we will probably have to do it that way. Well, I am not okay with playing without fans. I want to play with the fans,” he continued.

“But if the situation is not allowing to play with fans, like everybody, I will adapt to the situation. Of course, I hope that the situation improves and I really hope that we will be able to play with fans very, very soon because tennis and sport without the fans loses every single thing,” Nadal concluded.

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Tennis is one of the hardest-hit sports due to the coronavirus pandemic. The restrictions in the international traveling make it one of the last sports to resume.

However, the resumption of the season is important for the lower-level professionals as many of them solely depend on the tournament earnings to make a living. Hence, the governing bodies of tennis are trying to recommence the tour as soon as possible.