World TeamTennis players would lose money for positive COVID-19 test
Canadians Bouchard, Raonic set to compete in 3-week season at West Virginia
A World TeamTennis player or coach who tests positive for COVID-19 when arriving for the three-week 2020 season will be dropped from the league without pay.
Someone testing positive once competition has started would be held out for the rest of the season but still be compensated on a prorated basis.
The health plan released Tuesday by the WTT for its matches starting July 12 at The Greenbrier in West Virginia also calls for two daily temperature checks for all spectators; no ball kids; a chair umpire aided by electronic line calling instead of line judges; and no high-fives or handshakes between opponents.
The rosters announced for the WTT's nine teams include Grand Slam title winners Kim Clijsters, Sloane Stephens, Sofia Kenin and the Bryan brothers.
Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ont., and Eugenie Bouchard of Westmount, Que., are the two Canadians in the event.
WATCH | Milos Raonic falls to Reilly Opelka in Delray semis:
Instead of playing matches around the country this year, the league is putting everyone in one place because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Like many sports, the tennis tours have been on hold since March and no competition is scheduled until late July.
Crowds up to 500 a day expected
WTT does not offer ATP or WTA rankings points, though, so it can arrange to play on its own — just like several exhibition events that have sprouted up around the globe in recent weeks.
And unlike the U.S. Open Grand Slam tournament, which got the go-ahead from New York's state government Tuesday to be held in Flushing Meadows starting in August without fans, WTT has said it is going to allow up to 500 spectators per day at its outdoor matches in a 3,000-capacity arena.
Fans will be denied entry if they have a temperature at or above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) when checked before entering the grounds and again before accessing a court.
Players, coaches and staff members will be tested for COVID-19 when they arrive at the resort hosting all of the league's matches and remain quarantined until the result is known.
They also will be subject to daily temperature checks.
