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ROME: Spain’s clay king Rafael Nadal called for caution on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) with the French Open to be played in front of spectators later this month despite coronavirus concerns.
Nadal, who will compete for the 13th French Open title in Paris, returns to competition this week on clay in Rome for the first time in six months due to the pandemic.
“I do not know what is happening. I don’t know what the situation will be like at Roland Garros, ”the 34-year-old told reporters when asked about the French Open.
Let’s see how the virus evolves in the next few weeks. Hopefully in a good way. It doesn’t look like that, does it? Let’s see.
“We have to be patient and we have to wait to see how the situation improves.”
The world No. 2 could match Roger Federer’s 20 Grand Slam titles if he wins in Paris.
The French Open, which was delayed from May to start on September 27, could hold up to 11,500 spectators per day.
Nadal is competing for a 10th Italian Open title this week in the Masters 1000 tournament which, like the recent US Open, will be played behind closed doors.
Female seed Simona Halep, the 2018 French Open winner, said she was “pretty sure she will be very strict” at Roland Garros.
“I just read that they will have fans,” said the Romanian.
“But I’m pretty sure he will be very strict. “We cannot be with the fans, we cannot be with the people who are not in the bubble, so I think they will be separated. Hopefully it will be safe and we will feel like here, like in the bubble. “
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