Local tennis governing body Uganda Tennis Association (UTA) have confirmed that play has resumed on both the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors and the ITF Seniors Tour.
However, albeit a number of events being contested in Europe last week, for Uganda’s case, competitive play won’t happen yet because of the current noose on sports and all crowd pulling events as a Covid-19 preventive measure by government.
Uganda’s Pro Circuit is likely not to happen this year due to the current health situation, just like the Davis Cup in Congo.
Ugadan juniors were to be engaged in ‘zonals’ but the extended ban on sports in some parts of the region implies that the wait will continue.
However, the resumption of competitive international tennis on both the juniors and seniors circuits follows the restart of the professional game – on the ATP and WTA tours, as well as both men’s and women’s events on the ITF World Tennis Tour – in August.
All ITF events that take place must strictly adhere to the Return to International Tennis guidelines published by the ITF earlier this year, as well as any regional or national government regulations. The protocols are updated regularly and are available on the ITF website:
In the first week back of the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors, seven European events took place, including two J2 events in Czech Republic and Serbia. At J2 Rakovnik, the singles titles were won by Belgium’s Alexander Hoogmartens and Julie Struplova of Czech Republic, while at J2 Novi Sad, Marko Topo won the boys’ singles title on home soil and USA’s Elizabeth Coleman claimed the girls’ singles title.
Elsewhere, world No. 92 Daria Frayman (pictured) – who competed at junior Grand Slam level throughout 2019 – reached the final at J4 Larnaca, where she retired while trailing in the second set against Greece’s Dimitra Pavlou.
On the ITF Seniors Tour, events took place in Austria, France, Germany, Portugal and Romania, with more tournaments set to take place across Europe this week.
The ITF Beach Tennis World Tour is expected to resume with a tournament in Melilla, Spain this weekend, while wheelchair tennis returns at the US Open in New York next week.
