[ad_1]
Two days before the French Open, the authorities reduced the audience to 1,000 people a day. Meanwhile, defending champion Nadal criticizes the new balls.
Center court with closable roof, but (almost) no spectators: Rafael Nadal was unimpressed by the new playing conditions in autumn.
Photo: Tim Clayton (Getty Images)
They only had it when they were 20‘000 viewers expected. So when the numbers on the crown in France got up again, with 11’500. Finally with 5000. Two days before the tournament started there were on Friday now the next Mute: Only 1000 viewers left Every day permitted the third Grand Slam tournament of the year prosecute, at the behest of the French authorities.
Tournament Director Guy Forget and the frenchhe Association hattnorth I expected a special permit until the end and dabei dThe argument made that the facility is 12 hectaresin roughly as large as 15 football facilities together. “It is much safer in a mask at Roland Garros than in the subway or in a supermarket,” Forget said.
A roof, but almost no spectators
An peak days generally crowd knapp 40‘000 spectators in the Roland Garros-investment they intersect in the southwest of Paris. This experienced The biggest redesign in recent years since it came into operation in 1928. 380 million euros were invested and this year the roof of the Court Philippe Chatrier is finally ready for use. It consists of eleven wings, each weighing 3,500 tons, which can be lifted in 15 minutes.as Stadion cover it but continue Let in natural light and air. In 2021, evening sessions will also be introduced at the French Open.
Bernard Giudicelli, President of the French Federation, commented on the prescribed Cynical audience reduction: Each viewer has now 120 square meters available. “We regret this limitation. We have always worked with the authorities since the health crisis and we think that 5000 viewers would be the minimum. We can say that they see it differentlynot understand. »
“Tens of millions went up in smoke.”
Among the viewers who owned last planned 5000 Tickets Every day They are one day now 750 will be raffled, the other 250 will be retained, for example for guests of the sponsors. “Tens of millions were gone,” said Stéphane Morel of Marketingatournament division. However: “We would rather have 1000 viewers than none.”
But opinions differ on this. World No. 14 Victoria Asarenka, for example, criticized the fact that viewers are allowed. “The US Open went well without her. I don’t know why they always have to try something new. ”
Bad weather, which Rafael Nadal also complained about on Friday, coincided with the subdued mood in Paris. The new ball product, which will be used from this year, also impacts him. The tournament signed a new five-year team contract with Wilson, and now balls are being used that have so far received mostly criticism.
Nadal said it without rest: “The balls are super heavy and much slower than before. It is difficult to make a difference. “I had already trained with this product in Mallorca when the weather was good, and there it was also very slow.” It is not a real ball for clay courts, especially when it is wet and it is 9 degrees cold. ” The organizers have to do something for the next few years, because the balls are also dangerous for the health of the players, for the elbows and shoulders, and simply: Nadal’s game loses its impact through them.
The “most difficult conditions” for Nadal
This year everything is different, “for me they are the most difficult conditions that I have encountered”. It is sad that the most important tournament for him has to be held like this, cold, without spectators and with virtual interviews. “I will just fight and try every day to give myself the best possible chance.” After the quarter-finals in Rome and in view of the special conditions, Nadal will not be a great favorite in the tournament, which has already won twelve times and where he could overtake Roger Federer with his 20th Grand Slam Cup.
The toughest challenger from the bookmakers is Novak Djokovic, who won the tournament in Rome and would have 18 major cups with a second tournament win in Paris. Behind them are US Open winner Dominic Thiem, the most recent two-time loser in the Paris final, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medwedew, as well as Alexander Zverev and Stan Wawrinka. However, Andy Murray of Lausanne had a very difficult initial task.
A tournament with special precautions: Serbian Natalija Kostic with her coach Nicola Stevanovic on the way to Roland Garros.
Photo: Michel Euler (Keystone)
This year is unusually quiet in the facility’s new catacombs and new 2,500-square-meter media center. Journalists are only accredited if they can present a negative corona test carried out a maximum of 72 hours before their arrival and repeat it every seven days.
Interviews are conducted systematically only as video conferences. “Everyone is nervous about the situation,” says Azarenka, a Belarusian. Players who test positive would be withdrawn from the tournament and would have to spend seven days in isolation. The same is true for people who are in close contact with someone who has the virus.
