The world tennis circuit of the International Federation (ITF) returns this Monday with tournaments in Austria and Portugal that will have new protocols to mitigate the risk of exposure and spread of COVID-19, including a daily personal statement of being symptom free.
This is reported by the ITF in a note explaining that these tournaments are part of the next stage of the ITF called “Return to International Tennis”.
These protocols are already being put into practice in the men's event M25 Vogau and in the women's W15 Oeiras, where emerging talents such as the Danes Holger Rune and Clara Tauson, and the French Diane Parry are taking part.
Measures, which affect both hosts and participants, include:
– Before entering the tournament venue, all individuals will sign a daily declaration of being free from Covid-19 symptoms and of not having had any high-risk contact in the last 14 days.
– All individuals entering the tournament will be subjected to a daily control Of temperature.
– A maximum of one support person per player will be allowed in the venue, for individual events, except for players who need physical assistance essential during competition. Player support personnel will not be allowed in the changing rooms.
– Spectators will only be allowed when previously approved by the ITF and, if allowed, participants should be isolated to the extent possible.
– The presence of the media will be allowed in the place (including journalists, television camera operators, live scoring), but must meet the requirements of physical distancing, hygiene and control.
– As few staff as possible will be used (linesmen) on the court to provide the appropriate level of play.
– Case management and notification protocols will be applied if a participant does not meet the selection requirements, or if any participant tests positive for Covid-19 or reports symptoms within 14 days from the date they left the site of the visit.
– All tournament participants are bound by the protocols and any violation of the minimum standards of conduct will be dealt with in the same way as any other violation at the tournament venue.under the Code of Conduct for that tournament, which has been updated to reflect the new requirements. This includes the ability of the tournament supervisor to expel any attendee from the tournament venue for a violation of the minimum standards. Players and tournaments can access the updated regulations for each ITF circuit.