Public tennis centers reopen in Memphis
‘It’s so great just to get the blood flowing’ with restrictions
As Memphis continues its reopening plan, three public tennis centers — Bellevue Wolbrecht and Eldon Roark — opened their doors Monday for the first time in months.
Benches, lounge areas and water fountains were taped off, and employees wore masks and gloves.
But people were back playing.
“It’s so great just to get the blood flowing,” Macon Ivy said. “We’ve been
walking a lot, but it’s not the same as running around on the tennis court and having a competition to get your mind in gear.”
Chip Malone, tennis director at Bellevue Tennis Center, said he spent much of the past two weeks disinfecting the building and equipment to prepare for customers.
He said the natural distance between opponents gave tennis the ability to come back sooner than other sports.
“Unlike basketball or football, tennis isn’t so much a contact sport,” Malone said. “Typically in singles, you’re about 78 feet away from your opponent baseline to baseline. The closest you might ever get to an opponent would be about 10 feet.”
But even with social distancing built into the game, local tennis centers have implemented new health and safety guidelines.
“We’re encouraging our guests not to cross over and switch sides or shake hands after matches,” Malone said. “We’re encouraging them not to go and break for water on the same side of the court. We’re not teaching any clinic or any big group lessons.”
He said that since large gatherings aren’t allowed, the courts will mostly be used for rentals and private lessons.
“And even when I do private lessons, I take my own precautions,” Malone said. “I’m going to have a mask on at all times, I’ll have gloves on. They don’t get to touch the balls, I’m the only one who can. So if they want to serve they have to bring two cans of balls. They serve with the six balls that only they can touch.”
Rocky Anthony said the changes were noticeable on the court but that they help him feel safer.
“Just not having physical contact with the other players even though intellectually you kind of feel safe to give a high-five at changeovers,” Anthony said. “You’ve been conditioned now to not have contact, so you greet them now with a verbal hello, not a handshake or a hug.”
Malone said it’s important for people to have an outlet like tennis that lets them exercise while social distancing.
“I think it’s a good step. I think the phases are important,” Malone said. “And what’s nice is if we find out that this isn’t working we can go back to the phase before. I think it’s good that we’re taking progressive steps. We’re taking all the precautions we can.”