The sound of the bouncing ball will again be heard on British outdoor courts next month.
The British government approved the resumption of outdoor sports, including tennis, across the UK starting on March 29th.
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The LTA said in a statement it is hopeful indoor tennis facilities can reopen as soon as safely possible.
“We are pleased that there is now a clear date for when outdoor tennis will be allowed to resume in England,” the LTA said in a statement. “We know sport has a key role in supporting the physical and mental health of the nation, so its return will give a boost to the whole country, and is very welcome.
“Clearly tennis is a naturally socially-distanced and safe activity and so we would have liked restrictions to be lifted without delay and made the case for this. However we are now focussed on supporting venues, coaches, officials and players to prepare for the return of outdoor tennis on 29 March.
“It is also important that indoor facilities can reopen as soon as it is safe for them to do so. Many of the country’s network of indoor tennis facilities have suffered real financial challenges so it is vital that we protect these community assets to avoid them closing permanently, and we are keen to work with Government on this.”
What does the announcement mean for the British grass-court summer season? Will fans be permitted to attend Queen’s Club and Wimbledon, which were both cancelled in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic?
The British government’s plan calls for outdoor events with fans to be permitted no earlier than May 17th.
The LTA said it is working with the government and hopeful fans will be in the stands for the grass-court summer season.
“The initial plans for the return of spectators to sports stadia are also welcome, and we will continue to work closely with Government ahead of the LTA’s summer grass court events,” the LTA said. “We will share more information with tennis fans in due course.”
Photo credit: Chris Oddo