Spain's Feliciano Lopez in action during one of his matches back in February. (Getty Images)
Feliciano Lopez is a professional tennis player from Spain and director of the Mutua Madrid Open
Feliciano Lopez issued a stark warning to ATP as he mooted for the return of tennis recently.
Current World No.56, Lopez, was of the opinion that if tennis players opted against playing, it would affect the ATP and the only way forward was to be together and resume tennis once again.
He also added that he was not talking just as a player but also as a director of a tournament. Lopez, since last year, has been the director of the Mutua Madrid Open held in his native Spain.
“I speak as a player but also as the director of a tournament. If we do not play again, the ATP will not survive. The only way to continue is to be together and start playing,” said Lopez while speaking to The Guardian.
Meanwhile, tennis is set to resume soon, with the American hard-court tour around the corner. America will host two events – the first the one will be played in Cincinnati, which will be followed by the US Open in New York.
Lopez also had a say on the words of World No.1 Novak Djokovic, who had earlier stated on the idea of travelling to New York without his physical therapist as an extreme measure.
With tennis resuming in some parts of the world following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the US Open officials had brought in some new measures and Djokovic was speaking about them.
However, Lopez has a slightly different view of it. Though he believes that it is a sacrifice, it is just a minor one considering the current situations.
“It is a sacrifice, but there will be more physios on the slopes and your team can wait for you at the hotel. I think it is a minor sacrifice,” Lopez opined.
Lopez also acknowledged that the return of the circuit meant it can be held in several scenarios. According to him, it could be organised either with empty stands or with a small audience that could reach 40 percent of the total capacity.
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