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Evans: Empty Arthur Ashe Stadium would be 'strange but iconic'

While everyone would prefer to see fans in the stadium, Dan Evans believes a US Open with no spectators could still be an "amazing spectacle".

Evans added that if the tournament goes ahead "it would send out a real statement".

The 2020 US Open is due to be staged at Flushing Meadows from 31 August-13 September, but with New York being the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, it remains a major doubt.

Organisers are not keen on staging the event without fans, even going so far as to suggest they could move it to another state.

However, British No 1 Evans says he would be in favour of a US Open behind closed doors.

"Me, personally, I would love it to go ahead," he told The Guest List on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"I think it would send out a real statement that we can get back going.

"It could be an amazing spectacle that tennis goes ahead with no-one in the stadium, and everybody watching on telly.

"Arthur Ashe Stadium being empty, and Federer and Nadal or whoever playing the final would be so strange, but it would also be iconic. How good that would look in years to come."

There has been no competitive tennis since the start of March, with the earliest possible return set for 1 August, but players are likely to take part in smaller invitational events over the next few weeks.

- TEAMtalk media

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