No handshakes, no fans as German tennis academy hosts televised exhibition

There will be no handshakes, line judges, ball boys or spectators allowed, but tennis fans can get their fix from Friday when a series of exhibition matches will be streamed live from a rural German venue.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the ATP and WTA Tours are suspended until July 13 at the earliest.

However, tennis fans can enjoy live coverage of an eight-man tournament at the Base Tennis Academy in the tiny town of Hoehr-Grenzhausen, near Koblenz.

Germany's Dustin Brown, who famously beat Rafael Nadal in the second round of Wimbledon in 2015, is the best known name in the field, none of whom are ranked in world's top 100.

Compatriot Yannick Hanfmann, 28, will be the highest ranked player at 143.

"I'm really excited about it," Hanfmann told AFP subsidiary SID.

The academy's courts are already equipped with cameras and the matches will be streamed worldwide.

Due to coronavirus, only the two players and chair umpire will be allowed on the clay courts at any one time.

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