French Open allows fans to watch as it begins Sept. 27

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Unlike other professional sports who are eyeing a return amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the French Open officials decided to allow the entry of fans in the playing courts.

As Roland Garros is preparing for September 27 as their comeback date, part of their protocol in the playing court is allowing fans to enter and watch but will have to follow safety measures before entry.

With the US Open and other ATP tournaments having already set their final schedule for their return, the respective tourneys decided to conduct their games behind closed doors and labeled it as a strict safety protocol amid the ongoing pandemic.

Bernard Giudicelli, the president of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), explained that although they allow fans to watch the games live, the capacity of the venues won’t be filled up to maximum, but only up to a certain percentage.

“This kind of option requires real cooperation with the public authorities. It is still premature to be able to give even an estimate today. It will be a number, a percentage which will be defined by mutual agreement with the public authorities,” said Giudicelli.

Originally slated on May-June, the French Open committee together with the FFT had to postpone the prized tournament due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.