ITF issues new set of guidelines amid COVID-19 pandemic

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) issued a new set of guidelines for local and national-level tournaments to observe in a bid to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Once the restrictions imposed by the national government will be lifted concerning the pandemic, the world of tennis would be without shaking of hands, no showering, no sharing, and no signing of autographs for the fans.

Also, the guidelines included that all players should arrive in the venue already dressed up and they should strictly leave the playing court right after the match.

Moreover, players and officials should maintain a distance of at least 2 meters between each other and should wear masks while off-court, players will be asked to use their own set of balls, and ball boys and girls should wear rubber gloves.

“While following measures such as these will ensure that the risk from COVID-19 is minimized, the guidelines are clear that the risk cannot be eliminated altogether,” said the ITF.