(Reuters) – Enjoying matches in empty stadiums and following strict COVID-19 protocols has made the ATP Tour “unhappy, boring and ridiculous,” Frenchman Benoit Paire stated after being knocked out of the Chile Open by Danish teenager Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune.

The skilled circuit was closed for a number of months final yr earlier than event organizers carried out biosecurity bubbles for gamers and help workers whereas conserving followers away from stadiums.

Except for the swing in Australia in February, tournaments proceed to be performed in entrance of a handful of followers at most. The dearth of spectators affected the gamers who thrive in a feverish ambiance, whereas additionally impacting the funds of the event.

Pair, ranked twenty ninth on the planet, stated the game had turn out to be “tasteless work.”

“The ATP Tour has turn out to be unhappy, boring and ridiculous,” the 31-year-old wrote on Instagram, who criticized Australian Open organizers final month for his or her remedy of gamers throughout quarantine.

“I do know you are going to say you do not notice how fortunate you’re … however taking part in in closed stadiums with no ambiance (is) not why I play. Having to remain in a resort or membership and be banned from going out with out risking a nice, the place is the pleasure of touring?

“Tennis (has) turn out to be an insipid career … I want time to adapt to this pseudo ATP circuit however I’ll make an effort to attempt to discover the pleasure of taking part in tennis once more.”

Pair, who made the headlines final week after they crashed out of the Argentina Open after showing to have tanked their final service recreation and being docked at some extent for spitting, stated that the outcomes had been the very last thing he considered earlier than his journey to Acapulco and Miami.

“My aim shall be to smile and have enjoyable hitting a ball,” he stated. “Whether or not I win or lose, I do not care.”

(Reporting by Arvind Sriram in Bengaluru; Enhancing by Toby Davis)