No need for stars to isolate

TENNIS players arriving in the UK for grass court events will be spared self-isolation if they have come into contact with a positive case on their journey.

With the tournaments kicking off t o day, c o mpetitors a nd t hei r support teams have been told they can join a pilot scheme of increased daily testing, rather than having to pull out. It is the same programme f r om which cabinet minister Michael Gove is benefiting after coming back from watching the Champions League final in Porto.

The Lawn Tennis Association have negotiated with the Government to include players and staff under their umbrella. In the event of a positive contact they will be continuously assessed, not barred from competing or training.

The Viking Open at Nottingham began its qualifying yesterday, with the women’s main draw starting today and the men’s Challenger tomorrow.

The tournaments received a blow with Venus Williams pulling out, following the same move from Andy Murray, who still intends to play at Queen’s Club.

Jo Konta is the top seed and leads the British challenge, while Dan Evans heads the men’s field and has opted to participate after his early exit from Roland Garros, whose postponement by a week means that it will clash.

This will be the first high level grass court tennis seen in the UK since July 2019, with an all-British clash in the first round between Harriet Dart and promising teenager Emma Raducanu.

Also taking place this week is the ATP Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart, which will see Nick Kyrgios play his first tournament outside Australia since the start of the pandemic.