Gregoire Barrere: Everyone from Rafael Nadal to world No. 250 would play French Open

Rising French star Gregoire Barrere would have nothing against playing the French Open behind the closed doors and he thinks other players wouldn't either. 

The season has been suspended until early-August due to the coronavirus outbreak and the French Open moved from its traditional late-May and early-June date for a late September start. 

The Championships organizers called off this year's Wimbledon but the French Tennis Federation remains hopeful that they could stage the French Open at a later date this year. 

The French Tennis Federation will do everything it can to stage the French Open this year and they are open to making some adjustments and changes in order to have the event played in 2020. 

Playing without fans is one of the options but the organizers hope they will avoid that as they hope to bring in at least some number of fans. 

"It (stagting the French Open without fans and having it only on cameras) is better than nothing, for the tennis economy, for the Federation, for the players. If we can even play behind closed doors, we will all be there, from Rafa (Nadal) to the 250th in the world for qualifications," Barrere said, per France Inter. 

Barrere, ranked at No. 95 in the world, made his main draw debut on the clay courts of Roland Garros in 2016. 

The 26-year-old Frenchman picked up back-to-back first round exits in his first two French Open appearances but made the second round at the tournament last year.

Barrere achieved his career-high ranking of No. 80 in the world toward the end of the last season.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2A0PrZf