The French Open will allow fans when the tournament takes place later this month “despite the growing number of coronavirus cases in the country,” according to the AP. The French Tennis Federation has “scaled down its plans” from what it initially eyed based on the “latest government guidelines capping attendance to 5,000 people in regions such as Paris.” Organizers “wanted to welcome 50-60% of capacity, the equivalent of about 20,000 fans per day.” Roland Garros now will be “divided into three zones based on the three main courts, with 5,000 people each for the Philippe Chatrier and Suzanne Lenglen courts.” The zone surrounding the third biggest court “will host a maximum of 1,500 spectators a day.” French Open Tournament Dir Guy Forget said that all players “will be tested upon their arrival” and they will be “authorized to play if they return a negative test and will undergo a second test 72 hours later.” Players will be tested “every five days as long as they remain in the draw, and will have to stay in the two hotels booked by organizers” (AP, 9/7). The N.Y. Times' Christopher Clarey said, "The economic model they have with their TV contracts is not the same with the USTA with the U.S. Open. They don’t have an ESPN deal that’s that lucrative. So it may be harder for them to make the math work if they end up with no fans at all” ("Tennis Channel Live," Tennis Channel, 9/6).
DEFENDING CHAMP WILL BE ABSENT: In Melbourne, Scott Spits reports defending French Open champ Ashleigh Barty has “decided against travelling to Europe” to play in the event. Barty already skipped the U.S. Open. Barty said that there were “two key reasons why a trip to Paris … was off the agenda, including the health risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic.” She stated her on-court preparation “has not been ideal without my coach being able to train with me due to the state border closures in Australia" (Melbourne AGE, 9/8).
