Ball kids to wear gloves, not touch towels at Indian Wells

Posted March 06, 2020 6:00 am

By BETH HARRIS

FILE - In this Nov. 13, 2019, file photo, Rafael Nadal, of Spain, uses a towel after he plays a point against Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during their ATP World Tour singles tennis match at O2 Arena in London. Tennis players at the BNP Paribas Open that starts next week will have to manage their own towels on court and ball kids will wear gloves while working matches at the combined men's and women's tournament in the Southern California desert. The measures were announced Friday, March 6, 2020, by tournament organizers, who are offering fans uneasy about the coronavirus a refund for this year's event or a credit for next year. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File) The Associated Press

Tennis players at the BNP Paribas Open that starts next week will have to manage their own towels on court and ball kids will wear gloves while working matches at the combined men's and women's tournament in the Southern California desert.

The measures were announced Friday by tournament organizers, who are offering fans uneasy about the coronavirus a refund for this year's event or a credit for next year. The event runs March 11-22.

A chair will be placed at the back of the court for players to place their towels for use during matches. Ball kids won't be allowed to touch or move player towels.

Organized player and fan interaction will also be limited at the tournament, which is informally referred to as the fifth Grand Slam because of its popularity with players and fans, many of whom come from overseas. The event typically draws upwards of 450,000 during its two-week run.

This year's field includes Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff.

Organizers 'œremain very positive'ť about this year's event, said Matt Van Tuinen, a tournament spokesman.

Other precautions include over 250 hand sanitizing stations set up throughout the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Besides ball kids, restaurant and food supply workers will wear gloves as will volunteers handling tickets at entrances.

First aid and health workers will have access to masks if necessary and all common areas throughout the facility will be cleaned daily with an antiviral application.

Tournament organizers will coordinate with local hospitals and there will be Centers for Disease Control-approved testing for anyone with symptoms of coronavirus. They are following guidelines by Eisenhower Medical Center, the Riverside County Health Department and the CDC.

Organizers said further actions are being considered and will be evaluated daily to ensure the safety of players and fans.

___

More AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

FILE - In this July 13, 2019, file photo, Serena Williams wipes her face during the women's singles final match against Romania's Simona Halep at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London. Tennis players at the BNP Paribas Open that starts next week will have to manage their own towels on court and ball kids will wear gloves while working matches at the combined men's and women's tournament in the Southern California desert. The measures were announced Friday, March 6, 2020, by tournament organizers, who are offering fans uneasy about the coronavirus a refund for this year's event or a credit for next year. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this March 15, 2019, file photo, Rafael Nadal, of Spain, hits a forehand to Karen Khachanov, of Russia, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, Calif. Tennis players at the BNP Paribas Open that starts next week will have to manage their own towels on court and ball kids will wear gloves while working matches at the combined men's and women's tournament in the Southern California desert. The measures were announced Friday, March 6, 2020, by tournament organizers, who are offering fans uneasy about the coronavirus a refund for this year's event or a credit for next year.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.