French Open giving players one free hour outside social-distancing bubble

Tennis players at this year’s French Open will be allotted one hour daily to leave their social-distancing bubble.

According to the tournament’s director, Guy Forget, the hour will allow players the opportunity to go out to enjoy fresh air without being affected by Paris’s coronavirus restrictions, The Associated Press reported.

Forget added that the players are “extremely aware of the danger” of the virus and will not be under surveillance during their hour outings.

“Our goal is not to put them in a necklace and attach them to their hotel or to the Roland Garros stadium,” he told the AP.

The French Open has been delayed for the second consecutive year due to the coronavirus pandemic. It was originally scheduled to begin on May 23, but now first-round matches are set to start on May 30.

Only 1,000 people per day were allowed to be spectators of the event last year.

Depending on if virus cases are able to improve, up to 5,388 spectators will be allowed to view the event everyday from May 30 through June 8 this year, and that number could increase to a maximum of 13,146 spectators on June 9 and 10, the AP reported.

Forget told the news outlet that players participating in the French Open will be tested for COVID-19 upon their arrival to their hotel in Paris and will undergo PCR tests every four days.

They will not have access to the Roland Garros stadium on days that they do not play, he added.