Tennis, golf and skateboarding among sports set to resume on Wednesday

Double-faults and soul-destroying shanks are set to make their tentative returns to the English sporting landscape after the government announced minor changes to coronavirus lockdown conditions this week.

Tennis and golf are two of the sports set to benefit from heavily restricted reopenings on a recreational level, while the likes of cricket and sailing intend to await further clarity before following suit.

But for Olympic aspirants in surfing and skateboarding, the rule tweaks represent a seismic shift in respect of their immediate opportunities, and from Wednesday will enable them to get their Tokyo ambitions back on track.

Surfing
Surfing

Reigning national surfing champion Luke Dillon is planning to return to the water for the first time in over three months this week, after governing body Surfing England updated its self-distancing and safety guidelines.

“It feels like a throwback to when I was 12 years old, finishing school and rushing to the beach,” Dillon told the PA news agency.

“I’ve been checking the surfing forecast more in the last two days than in the last two months. It’s not looking great so I’m just going to be flopping out, but I’m just so happy I can go back in the sea.”

Tennis
Tennis

The news will also make a major difference for skateboard hopeful Alex Decunha, with Skateboard England advocating a “responsible” return as a number of skate parks across the country prepare to reopen.

Since lockdown rules came into force, Decunha has been taking his status as Britain’s number one ‘Street’ skater almost literally by training alone in a Milton Keynes car park.

“It’s pretty easy to stay away from people when you’re skating but you need other people, because you’re pushing each other and that’s when you progress at a much better rate,” said Decunha.

Coronavirus – Tue Apr 14, 2020
Coronavirus – Tue Apr 14, 2020

“Obviously we all have to be careful and keep safe but it will be good to get back to the skate park again and it will help me get my consistency back to a good level.”

Golf and tennis will be subject to strict government guidelines, with the former restricted to singles play or two-balls comprising individuals from different households, and the latter comprising singles play, unless doubles teams are all members of the same household.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has asked recreational players to give it “a little more time” to digest the latest government guidelines, subject to further clarity that is expected this week.

Local cricket grounds
Local cricket grounds

In a statement the ECB said: “We completely understand the level of patience that recreational players have had to demonstrate so far, and know that most will be desperate to return to the nets to practice.

“We ask for a little more time to plan out the best way to deliver this opportunity to everyone as safely as possible.”

Sport England has clarified that from Wednesday, “any facilities associated with outdoor sports and physical activities can reopen… if those responsible for them feel ready to do so and if they can do so safely.”

The resumption of other individual elite programmes will be subject to further government guidance, which UK Sport expect to be disseminated this week, and for which decisions will need to be made on a case-by-case basis.

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