Players at the French Open will be allowed a daily one-hour window outside their social-distancing bubble, tournament organisers said Wednesday.
Guy Forget, the director of the clay-court Grand Slam, said players will have the chance to get out for a jog or enjoy some fresh air during their stay in the French capital despite coronavirus restrictions. Insisting players are "extremely aware of the danger" caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Forget said they won't be put under surveillance.
"Our goal is not to put them in a necklace and attach them to their hotel or to the Roland Garros stadium," he said.
For the second year in a row, the traditional French Open schedule has been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. Initially scheduled to start on May 23, first-round matches will now get underway on May 30. Last year's tournament was pushed back to September because of the pandemic, with crowds limited to 1,000 per day.
This year's delay will allow organizers to welcome more fans since nationwide restrictions enforced in France are set to ease before and during the tournament.