Olympics-Tennis-Adjusting to Games atmosphere main challenge, says Swiatek's psychologist

FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows the new National Stadium, the main stadium of Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, in Tokyo, Japan January 5, 2020, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Picture taken on January 5, 2020. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

TOKYO (Reuters) - Adjusting to COVID-19 protocols in Tokyo may be easy for globe-trotting tennis players, but adjusting to the social environment at the Olympics will be a real challenge, the sports psychologist of major winner Iga Swiatek told Reuters.

The professional tour returned to empty stadiums and bio-secure bubbles amid the global COVID-19 pandemic after a five-month shutdown in 2020. Protocols will be identical when the sport kicks off from Saturday at the Ariake Tennis Park.