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  Sports   Tennis  02 May 2020  Covid-19 effect: No shaking, no sharing, no showering in tennis

Covid-19 effect: No shaking, no sharing, no showering in tennis

AFP
Published : May 2, 2020, 9:31 am IST
Updated : May 2, 2020, 9:31 am IST

ITF issued a set of guidelines which include arriving at a venue already dressed and leaving immediately after the conclusion of a match

HANDS IN GLOVES: Ball-boys and girls do stretching exercises at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris. AP Photo
 HANDS IN GLOVES: Ball-boys and girls do stretching exercises at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris. AP Photo

Paris: No shaking, no showering, no sharing, no signing.

Welcome to what the world of tennis could look like once government restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic have been lifted.

On Friday, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), issued a set of guidelines for local and national-level competitions.

"They emphasise that decisions made by governments take precedence and that tennis (either competitive or recreational) should not be played until governments have sufficiently relaxed any restrictions that are currently in place," said an ITF statement.

The guidelines include arriving at a venue already dressed and leaving immediately after the conclusion of a match.

"Do not use the locker rooms or showers," say the ITF.

Masks are to be worn while off-court, players and officials should maintain at least two metres between each other while handshakes are also off limits.

Each player is asked to use their own set of balls -- separately numbered.

Ball boys and girls to wear rubber gloves while at changeovers, players must go around opposite sides of the net.

Players are also discouraged from signing autographs and from taking selfies while being warned not share equipment, water bottles or food.

Tournaments should also only be singles and played without spectators.

"While following measures such as these will ensure that the risk from Covid-19 is minimised, the guidelines are clear that the risk cannot be eliminated altogether," added the ITF.

The professional ATP and WTA tours have been suspended since mid-March and are not expected to resume until July 13 at the earliest.

Players are also discouraged from signing autographs and from taking selfies while being warned not share equipment, water bottles or food.

Tournaments should also only be singles and played without spectators.

"While following measures such as these will ensure that the risk from Covid-19 is minimised, the guidelines are clear that the risk cannot be eliminated altogether," added the ITF.

The professional ATP and WTA tours have been suspended since mid-March and are not expected to resume until July 13 at the earliest.

Tags: international tennis federation, atp tour, wta tour, covid 19
Location: France, Île-de-France, Paris