This is how it is in the tennis year 2021: While Nikoloz Basilashvili was celebrated on Saturday by a small but unmistakable crowd in Doha for his fourth tournament victory on the ATP tour, the winner from Marseille will be the winner of this Sunday between Daniil Medvedev and Pierre-Hugues Herbert is determined to be basically completely alone. And with the numerous cardboard comrades that the organizers placed in the stands in Marseille.

In principle, most tennis professionals agree that they are in a privileged position. They can pursue their profession, even spread over the whole world in times of a pandemic. However, there are more and more voices that plan to exercise their profession with a limited desire.

Tsonga - "It's not fun"

After Benoit Paire described his South America trip, which he will continue with a performance in Acapulco in the coming week, as extremely unpleasant, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga made a similar statement in Marseille. “It's a completely different atmosphere. We cannot raise our hands to greet the audience as they march in. We do COVID tests every three-four days. We can't go to restaurants to relax. We're not motivated, it's not fun. "

Tsonga was not even in Australia, where, at least in Melbourne Park, with the exception of a five-day lockdown window, an almost normal tennis tournament took place. In which Daniil Medvedev lost the final against Novak Djokovic in front of well-filled stands. That Medvedev, who a few days later in Rotterdam in front of empty ranks in round one against Dusan Lajovic delivered a tragedy.

Kas with understanding for Kyrgios

First world problems, one might think. But it is not that simple. The players and supervisors lived in constant fear that a test would be positive, explained ex-professional and coach Christopher Kas in the current issue of "Quiet, please - the tennisnet podcast". On the one hand, because then there is a risk of prolonged isolation, on the other hand, because the course of the disease could well become critical. Although he could not approve of Benoit Paire's behavior on the court in Buenos Aires, Kas was already understanding the assessments of the general circumstances.

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He also understands players like Nick Kyrgios , who say they refrain from traveling to tournaments under these circumstances. And the ATP has now recognized that the problem is not just on the financial side, as Alex Antonitsch noted. The players' association has recently started providing its professionals with psychological help if necessary. On the other hand: A cancellation of all tournaments until "normal" conditions have returned is not a solution either, said Antonitsch. Least of all for the players.