News

Up to 20,000 spectators to attend French Open each day

July 2, 2020 08:27 PM


Twitter Share Facebook Share WhatsApp Share

The French Open will allow up to 20,000 people to attend each day of this year's tournament despite the coronavirus pandemic, organisers announced on Thursday.

The French Tennis Federation (FFT) also said that up to 10,000 people would be able to watch the finals and that it may increase the capacity should the situation with COVID-19 continue to improve in France.

The clay-court Grand Slam event is set to start on September 27 and finish on October 11, with tickets to go on sale on July 9.

"The number of spectators allowed inside the stadium will be 50 percent to 60 percent of its usual capacity, allowing us to ensure the barrier measures are respected," the FFT said in a statement.

It also warned rules regarding attendance could be tightened in the event of another outbreak in the country.

"However, if the situation requires more stringent hygiene standards that force us to reduce the number of spectators on site, the tournament organisers will refund any supplementary tickets sold," the FFT added.

The US Open in New York is set to be the first Grand Slam since the coronavirus lockdown, starting on August 24, but is to be played behind closed doors, while Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since World War II.

The French Open was pushed back from its traditional slot in the calendar in late May and early June after France entered a near two-month lockdown on March 17.

The ATP and WTA Tours are set to restart in August, having been suspended since March.

Several exhibition tournaments have gone ahead since, with mixed success, including Novak Djokovic's ill-fated Adria Tour which had to be ended early after the world number one and three other players tested positive for the virus.

Spectators will have to adhere to social-distancing rules at the French Open and wearing a mask while on the Roland Garros site will be obligatory.

One seat will be left empty between each group of fans on show courts, with a maximum group of four people allowed to sit together, with every other seat to be vacant on outside courts.

Unlike the US Open, Roland Garros will maintain its qualifying event in the week before the main draw.

Rafael Nadal will be bidding for a record-extending 13th men's singles crown, with Australian Ashleigh Barty defending the women's title.

France has recorded almost 30,000 deaths due to the coronavirus, with over 165,000 confirmed cases.

 

 



Most Read

  1. 20 passengers perish in Chilas bus plunge 20 passengers perish in Chilas bus plunge
  2. Daughters defend Bushra Bibi Daughters defend Bushra Bibi
  3. Pakistani-origin woman laid off by Elon Musk gives emotional reaction Pakistani-origin woman laid off by Elon Musk gives emotional reaction
  4. Pakistan's historic moon mission aboard China rocket blasts off Pakistan's historic moon mission aboard China rocket blasts off
  5. The Great Indian Kapil Show: Astonishing per-episode fees of cast revealed! The Great Indian Kapil Show: Astonishing per-episode fees of cast revealed!
  6. And they lived happily ever after! Ishq Murshid's last episode sparks joy among fans And they lived happily ever after! Ishq Murshid's last episode sparks joy among fans

Opinion

  1. PM Shehbaz Sharif, WEF and Pakistan
    PM Shehbaz Sharif, WEF and Pakistan

    By Naveed Aman Khan

  2. Employing global best practices in Pakistan-Saudi ties
    Employing global best practices in Pakistan-Saudi ties

    By Nasim Zehra

  3. PML-N smashed PTI in by-polls
    PML-N smashed PTI in by-polls

    By News Desk

  4. Riding the Digital Wave: How Technology is Rewriting the Script of Economic Prosperity
    Riding the Digital Wave: How Technology is Rewriting the Script of Economic Prosperity

    By News Desk

  5. Tax on solar energy: Govt's misplaced priorities favour powerful stakeholders over people welfare  
    Tax on solar energy: Govt's misplaced priorities favour powerful stakeholders over people welfare  

    By Manzoor Qadir

  6. Legacy of Indian military subjugation in Kashmir
    Legacy of Indian military subjugation in Kashmir

    By Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai