Tennis without quarantine to compete in the Madrid Open

The issue of quarantines by COVID-19, which worries the ATP, the WTA and the US Open for the difficulties that it would suppose for the movement between countries when the circuit is resumed (if that happens), It will not be a problem at least for the players who want to play the Mutua Madrid Open. And it is that the order INT / 595/2020 published in the BOE of July 2 allows entry into Spain without the need for initial 14-day isolation to “highly qualified workers whose work is necessary and cannot be postponed or carried out remotely, including participants in high-level sporting events taking place in Spain”.

The Higher Sports Council (CSD), at the request of the criteria that dictates the Ministry of the Interior confirmed to AS that it issued certificates that day They have already been used, for example, by some pilots who are participating these days in the motorcycle GP that is taking place this week in Jerez.

In this way, tennis players like Novak Djokovic could participate in the US Open from August 31 to September 13 and go immediately to Madrid (September 13-20) without having to be quarantined or from the European Union, the Schengen area or third countries exempt from the temporary restriction of non-essential travel, such as Australia, Canada, China, South Korea, Montenegro … . This is the case of the world number one, which is from Serbia, and the legion of Americans who will compete in New York if it is held, as it seems, the second Grand Slam of the year. Later, the trip from Madrid to Rome (September 20 to 27) and to Paris (September 27 to October 11) would not be a problem for those who were not infected either.

The problem and what the governing bodies of tennis now negotiate with politicians is the transit of coaches, trainers, physios, agents, doctors … that are not subject to any of the aforementioned exceptions.

Plans

The ATP, the WTA, the USTA and the French Federation use strict protocols (tests, safe areas, disinfection …) to try to guarantee the health of tennis players, who already know them. They also prepare insurance for a player and a companion in case they fall ill, because the idea is not to stop even if there is a positive.