Tennis, contactless sport but banned in Brussels and Wallonia

In recent days, measures against the coronavirus have been stepped up almost hour by hour, barely exaggerating.

Tennis is not a contact sport, social distancing is respected. But, this season, it is played indoors. It is to be taken into account. What if we play outside? What can we do to let off steam and hit a ball?

It often depends on your location. North or South?

Decisions are made at all levels, first at the Federal government on Friday morning, then in the community Friday at the end of the day. The Fédération-Wallonie Bruxelles, considering the national measures insufficient to deal with the situation, tightened up certain rules which it still considered too light. Flanders for its part hasn't changed anything… So how do you know?

This summer, the federated entities had agreed on color codes for the world of sport. Green, yellow, orange, red: each situation has its own color. Red being the most severe, it prohibits indoor sports activities, sports contacts, the public, access to changing rooms and an activity with more than two people outside the bubble.

But today, the situation is such that even red is no longer restrictive enough. In the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, it is very clear, the color code is no longer sufficient: if you were born before 2008, no more sport other than in your bubble. No distinctions between inside, outside, distances, contacts… We store the snowshoes until November 19, without exception.

But it was not immediately clear to everyone … Stéphane, amateur tennis player since his youngest years, meets his friends every Sunday evening to hit the ball and make a few sets. This Sunday, the quinquas, not knowing very well what it is about the tennis situation, go as usual to a small club in the Namur region. With Luc, they meet the manager of the club on arrival, he explains to them that, since the decisions of Friday, they no longer have the right to play. But he still left the accessible grounds illegally over the weekend. “It's the last day” he assures, after the place will be closed until November 19.

The friends start playing, like outlaws. They do not understand very well why it is prohibited insofar as social distancing is respected. In the logic of tennis, each player is on either side of the net so if you play it correctly, the risk is minimal.

They exchange balls but still do not feel perfectly at their ease: “Imagine if the Police come by and see a light?” Both players are bracing for the possibility of being faced with a check and obviously want to avoid a fine. So they make their arrangements: “We're going to show that we don't play with the same balls all the time and that our mask is not far away, just in case.”

Both men will remember this part: “We had never had such a strong feeling of guilt playing tennis, it never happens and it was very surprising. Not very pleasant either because we don't let go as much as we usually do.”

If you live in Flanders it is, for the moment, different than if you live in Wallonia or in the Brussels Region. After the federal decisions last Friday, the Flemish government, unlike the Walloons, has not tightened the screws on how fans can tackle their favorite sport. As a result, many Brussels residents are taking advantage of the situation to continue playing sport in the Flemish region. The Davis tennis club, located in Wezembeek-Oppem, offers its members living in Brussels or Wallonia to postpone their reservations made in the evening to respect the curfew imposed on them.

Recreational tennis can still be played in singles indoors and outdoors and even in doubles only outdoors. If you are over 18, the competitions are canceled or postponed but you still have the right to let off steam while respecting social distancing, of course.

The Flemish government will meet on Tuesday evening to take further steps to contain the virus. It is obviously not known to what extent these decisions will modify access to sport and tennis in particular.