Rome (AFP)

With Rafael Nadal back after a six-month forced break and Novak Djokovic seeking redemption following his disqualification from the US Open, the short clay-court season begins Monday in Rome, without spectators.

As usual, it is already a little Roland-Garros which is announced (September 27-October 11) when the first balls resound at the Masters 1000 in Rome.

And yet, the empty bleachers under the gaze of the white statues of the Foro Italico and the wide aisles without spectators are a reminder of how the new coronavirus pandemic has turned the calendar upside down.

"Obviously, it's not the same thing, there is no public, we are in a bubble, we cannot go to town. But at least we have a tennis tournament", underlined in conference release Rafael Nadal, who will play his first competitive match since the end of February in Acapulco.

Professional tennis was shut down from March to early August.

Then the world N.2 gave up the post-Covid-19 American tour because of uncertain sanitary conditions and the "madness" of the new calendar.

"Without regret," he assured Monday in Rome about this American impasse.

And its shape?

"As usual, maybe a little worse, because I haven't played for six months ..."

"Clay is its surface, I don't have many doubts, I'm sure it will be level," said Stefanos Tsitsipas (N.6) of him.

- "The rules are clear" -

By resuming on his favorite surface, Nadal spares the brutal hard / clay transition that awaits the participants of the US Open, two weeks before Roland Garros (September 27-October 11).

But the Spaniard, exempt from the 1st round, will have to get into the rhythm very quickly because he is offered in the 2nd round a client in good shape, his compatriot Pablo Carreno (27th), who has just reached the semi-finals of the l 'US Open (as such he is also exempt from the first match in Rome).

Novak Djokovic, who made nine finals in Rome (for four titles), for his part is eager to turn the page of his spectacular disqualification in the round of 16 of the US Open, after throwing the ball involuntarily at a linesman .

"The sooner I return to competition, the sooner I will overcome this memory", launched the world No.1 to the press, not disputing the decision: "When you hit a ball like I did, you have a chance to hit someone on the court. The rules are clear, I accepted that. "

Fifteen of the twenty best worlds are expected in Rome, but with however several notable absentees in the Top 10. Besides Federer (N.4), absent until 2021, three of the four semi-finalists of the US Open are missing: Dominic Thiem (N.3), Alexander Zverev (N.7) and Daniil Medvedev (N.5).

- Angry pair -

The women's tournament will again be deprived of its world No. 1, the Australian Ashleigh Barty, who has given up returning to the circuit, both in the United States and in Europe, due to the health situation. and a preparation disrupted by the impossibility of certain trips to Australia.

Serena Williams, suffering from her left Achilles tendon, and Naomi Osaka, respectively semi-finalist and winner at the US Open, will not be there either.

But the N.2 Simona Halep, absent in the United States, will be present as the N.1 seed.

The Czech Karolina Pliskova (3rd), defending champion in Rome, will defend her well, after her surprise elimination in the second round of the US Open.

If most of the favorites are not expected until Tuesday or even Wednesday on the courts, the first day will be marked by the return of Benoît Paire.

Excluded from the US Open after his positive test for the new coronavirus, then confined to his New York hotel room, the French (23rd) will be opposed in the evening to the Italian Jannik Sinner (74th) for a crisp 1st round.

Pair, who wanted to have 24 hours more to find the rhythm, violently attacked the organizers on Twitter by denouncing a "shitty programming": "I made only one request, it is to play Tuesday to have one more day of practice with what happened to me in New York, and as I play an Italian you put me on Monday !! "

© 2020 AFP