Tennis fans in Goulburn may soon be able to play doubles matches once again, but will need to prove that they have been fully vaccinated to do so.
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In a statement released on September 17, Tennis NSW explained that it had received many questions relating doubles tennis during the statewide lockdown.
"Tennis NSW has received numerous enquiries in relation to whether doubles play is permitted given the partial lifting of restrictions for individuals who have been double vaccinated," Tennis NSW said.
"We have engaged NSW Health and NSW Office of Sport to get clarity and confirmation on whether it is the responsibility of the individual or the club/venue to ensure that they are fully vaccinated.
"Without receiving clarity on ultimately who is liable, then our advice is as follows:Doubles play at a venue in a Stay-At-Home Area is NOT permitted unless the Club/Venue Operator has means by which they can verify the vaccination status of anyone wishing to play doubles at their venue."
The Goulburn Tennis Club confirmed today with the Post that it would look into the possibility of allowing doubles matches to resume.
"We'll certainly send out some emails to all the members letting them know," GTC professional, Dave Ridland, said.
"It doesn't mean we can play competitions, so that's not a whole lot of extra play but it's better than just singles."
In its statement, Tennis NSW emphasised that clubs could only allow doubles matches to resume if they met a number of conditions, including having a COVID-19 Safety plan, COVID-19 check-in stations, enforcing the one person per four square metre rule, and members must not gather before or after they play.
"We believe that the large majority of our venues across the State are unable to meet the requirements above," Tennis NSW said.
"However, any Club/Venue wishing to implement appropriate processes should conduct their own risk analysis and make a decision based on their own circumstances and resources."
Ridland, however, was confident that the GTC would be able to meet the requirements outlined.
Since tennis and golf are two of the only major sports that have been allowed to continue during the lockdown, Ridland has seen a jump in the number of memberships in recent months.
Due to this additional interest, he expects the potential return of doubles play to prove popular among the members.
"There's always people down there playing singles that have mates on the other courts playing singles as well," Ridland said.
"I'm sure if they're vaccinated that they'd get together and do that.
"There's a lot of people filling the courts down there each day, we recently had all ten courts filled with singles players at one stage."
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