Angelique Kerber: Playing in Empty Stadiums Must Be Considered as a Last Resort

Former World No. 1 Angelique Kerber says that playing tennis without spectators must be considered as the last option when the situation stabilises given the current global pandemic even though the idea seems absurd under normal circumstances.

Speaking to the German daily, the Bild,  the three time Grand Slam champion Kerber says, "It's hard to imagine playing in front of empty stands, and matches without an audience is anything but ideal, but if this can constitute a transition to a return to play, you have to consider it, even if in normal times, this seems completely absurd."

As of now, all tennis tournaments till July 12th have been suspended and the Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament has been cancelled for this season. While many players have said that playing in front of empty stadiums is not something they would like to do, Kerber says it must be considered as a last resort as "even the experts cannot yet predict when a recovery would be possible."

Kerber is currently spending the quarantine period at her academy in Puszczykowo, Poland where her grandparents reside for whom she says she is worried since they fall under the high risk category.

Kerber had not played since the Australian Open in January due to a thigh injury.

Australian Open chief Craig Tiley has also said that Tennis Australia is preparing back up scenarios of playing the tournament without fans. Tiley says they are also considering scenarios in case players need to be isolated after reaching Australia.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2xkPY7l