Americans should press pause on playing tennis while the coronavirus surge continues, the USTA announced.
The majority of Americans are in lockdown due to the coronavirus.
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If you're thinking of going out and hitting the ball this weekend, think again. The UTA says it's in the best interest of society if Americans hang up the racquets for the immediate future.
"Based on the recommendations of the USTA COVID-19 Advisory Group, the USTA believes that it is in the best interest of society to take a collective pause from playing the sport we love," the USTA said in a statement on its website. "Although there are no specific studies on tennis and COVID-19, medical advisors believe there is the possibility that the virus responsible for COVID-19 could be transmitted through common sharing and handling of tennis balls, gate handles, benches, net posts and even court surfaces."
This week, work began on converting a part of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the US Open, into a temporary 350-best hospital to help New York in its battle against COVID-19.
While public golf courses are open in Westchester County, New York, most public tennis courts are locked down.
"As a result of this, the USTA asks that as tennis players we need to be patient in our return to the courts and consider how our decisions will not only affect ourselves, but how our decisions can impact our broader communities," the USTA said. "In the meantime, we encourage everyone to stay active and healthy with at-home exercise and creative “tennis-at-home” variations."
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