Nadal and Djokovic missed the presence of fans in the stadium

I enjoy playing in front of an audience more than in front of an empty gallery

Jakarta (medialnews) – Empty stands have become commonplace in tennis tournaments during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic admit they struggle to maintain the intensity of their game when competing in the stadium without fans.

Professional tennis tournaments stalled for several months last year until the organizers finally decided to implement a bubble system to ensure the safety of players and support staff, one of which was to ban spectators from entering the stadium.

Nadal, however, lost some of his energy in the 6-1, 6-2 win over Argentinian Delbonis in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters. He said the absence of fans had an impact on his game.

Also read: Nadal started Monte Carlo without any problems to make it to the last 16

“Sometimes I find it difficult to play with the same intensity without spectators,” said the winner of 20 Grand Slam titles.

“The presence of the audience helps you to keep going. You want to show that you are in good shape,” he continued.

“To be honest, I miss the cheers of the fans. I can’t cover that. I enjoy playing in front of an audience more than in front of an empty gallery. “

A similar sentiment was expressed by world number one Novak Djokovic, who performed at his best when he beat 19-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters. But like Nadal, he also admitted that he lacked the fans’ energy.

Also read: Djokovic praises Sinner’s performance in Monte Carlo

“We need the presence of fans in the stands. They give us a lot of energy and motivation,” said Djokovic.

But the Serb also sees the positive side of the absence of fans. According to him, he can focus more without being disturbed by noise during the game.

“We feel there is calm in the stands and on the field. This allows you to focus more on yourself without much distraction,” he said.

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Reporter: Shofi Ayudiana
Editor: Fitri Supratiwi
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