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ROME (AFP) – Rafael Nadal returns to competition after a forced six-month hiatus, while Novak Djokovic seeks to make up for his disqualification from the US Open when the short clay-court season began in Rome on Monday without spectators.
The tournament at the Foro Italico in Rome normally takes place in May, but was delayed after the coronavirus pandemic that turned the calendar upside down.
“Obviously, it is not the same. There is no audience, we are in a bubble, we cannot enjoy the city, ”said Nadal, who will play his first competitive match since his triumph in Acapulco at the end of February.
“But at least we have a tennis tournament.”
Nadal, 34, is the second seed behind world number one Djokovic in the set-up for the final Grand Slam of the season at the French Open on September 27.
“I am excited to be back. The circumstances have been, you know, heavy for everyone, difficult, ”said Nadal, who is aiming for a tenth title in the Roman capital.
Professional tennis was closed from March to early August.
And the world number two opted out of the US hard court tour due to concerns about the coronavirus and citing the “insanity” of the new schedule.
“No regrets,” he insisted before his second-round tie in the middle of the week against fellow 27th-ranked Pablo Carreño Busta, who reached the semifinals of the US Open.
“I am similar to always, maybe a little worse because I did not compete for the last six months.
“But here I am. I arrived with a lot of time to try to do the proper practices. That’s what I’m doing. I know I have a difficult game against Pablo. He’s playing very well. ”
“It will be a good test. I’m excited to be back in the competition without great expectations. “
But third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas doesn’t think the lack of competition will have an impact on two-time defending champion Nadal, who is 61-6 at the tournament.
“I don’t think Rafa will have much difficulty playing here,” said Tsitsipas.
“Regardless of how you feel, I’m sure you will find a way. He always finds a way every year. “
– ‘Great lesson’ –
Djokovic, a four-time Roma winner, who has reached nine finals in the Italian capital, wants to turn the page on his dramatic disqualification in the knockout stages of the US Open, after inadvertently throwing the ball to a linesman.
“It’s great that I have a tournament right after it happened, because I feel like the sooner I get back to competition mode, the faster I will get over that memory and reschedule it,” the Serb told reporters in the Italian capital. .
“When you hit a ball like I did, you have the opportunity to hit someone on the court. The rules are clear, I accepted it.
“I’m going to take this, you know, as deeply as possible for myself as a great lesson.”
Djokovic had been undefeated this year before his departure from the US Open and is aiming for a title he last won in 2015.
“Obviously Rafa decided to stay on clay and practice, surely that gives him more advantage, but even if he didn’t practice for that long on clay, he would still be the number one favorite at Roland Garros or any other clay tournament because he is Rafa, already you know, ”he added.
“And playing on clay is the biggest challenge.
“It’s going to be a challenge to fit, you know, how quickly can we adapt, how quickly can we adapt to this new surface.”
– ‘Feel safe’ –
The women’s tournament will not feature Australian world number one Ashleigh Barty, who will not compete again this season due to concerns about the coronavirus.
Serena Williams, who suffers from an Achilles tendon problem, and US Open champion Naomi Osaka will also skip the Rome event.
World number two Simona Halep, absent in the United States, will be seeded.
“I’m a little scared of what’s going on in the world, but here I feel safe,” Halep said.
“Everything is very well taken care of. We can’t get out of the hotel, we can’t get out of the bubble.
“I feel ready to start the tournament and I am also looking forward to the French Open,” added the 2018 Roland Garros champion.
Czech Karolina Pliskova, third seeded, is the defending champion in Rome.
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