As the world is slowly trying to recover from the effects of the pandemic, legit tennis fans don't have to keep wondering where they'll get their next fix. Tennis has the go-ahead to come back from the pandemic. With the green light on, organizers of the first tournament are taking detailed steps to ensure the players' safety and their health come first even as they prepare to duel.
Only three people will be present on the court: one player on each side of the court and one umpire. The event planners have taken so much into consideration that each player will enter the court separately and won't cross the net as they play. There will not be any spectators present.
With the tournament coming up, the rest of the world is starting to ask serious questions. Is tennis the only game that's safe to play during the Pandemic? Well, it probably is.
It's the only sport that does not require any physical contact. Therefore, since COVID-19 requires a significant amount of social distancing, tennis seems to be the ideal sport to play during the Pandemic. Besides, in an interview with USA Today Sports, USTA (United States Tennis Association) CEO Michael Dowse reported that the game comes second to safety and health.
What this means is that the sport will be considered safe to play only once the players meet the social distancing requirements. The tennis announcement, as per many whispers, resulted in the wholesalers of tennis merchandise making significant sales towards the end of March. Nevertheless, here are the recommendations that the USTA is advocating for to ensure the safety of players during the Pandemic.
Standard COVID-19 preventative measures such as social distancing, sanitizing, and handwashing.
No physical contact to celebrate wins or at the end of matches
Disinfection of all equipment and racquets before and after use
No change of court sides
No touching balls that've been touched by opponents.
Avoiding all kind of physical contact when playing doubles
Will Tennis Spirit Still Live On?
Even though people can play tennis while observing the rules and regulations, tennis players and fans both have a reason to feel deep distress after the cancellation of Wimbledon this year. Not only is Wimbledon an esteemed and prestigious championship, but it's also one of the peak events in the summer. With travel restrictions and fear of infection from the Coronavirus, fans will have to wait till next year to experience another Wimbledon match.
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If you want to get a little sentimental, though, you'll be pleased to know that there are Wimbledon reruns on the Tennis Channel. As if canceling the championship isn't a dagger that's deep enough! For people who eat, drink, and sleep tennis, there's an aching absence that's quite frustrating.
Other than Wimbledon, tournaments that have suffered the casualty of cancellation include:
The Laver Cup
All events that are part of the ATP Challenger Tour
The International Tennis Federation World Tennis Tour
Seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams, reacted on Twitter, saying, "I'm shocked" in response to the news of the Wimbledon cancellation. Unfortunately, for the upcoming generation of tennis stars, this cancellation means there'll be no one to watch them take the next step in their careers this year. There's much to be grateful for even though it seems the future of tennis doesn't look so bright.
It may be time for a change in tennis as Tennis players urge governing bodies to work together in unity. The Pandemic has also been an eye-opener to the dilemma being experienced by the lower rank players. These players rely entirely on their winnings in tournaments; perhaps, it's time to change.
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