Suspending tennis in NSW 'a good call' says Scott Eulenstein

Announced on March 27 by Tennis NSW, the announcement was made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic currently working its way through the country.

"With those larger groups especially I think it is the right call because tennis competitions are played in those larger groups with more people congregating," he said.

"I think it's been a good call to suspend it."

The organisation's announcement specifically refers to the federal government's limit on social gatherings, which precludes groups of more than two people gathering in public.

While it does not stop Eulenstein from holding private lessons one-on-one with students, he has left it to the clubs to decide whether or not they are happy to continue that practice.

Though he agrees with the call to halt tennis for the time being, Eulenstein said he "[sees] a space moving forward" for tennis to be reintroduced as a source of exercise.

"I do see the benefits of tennis, especially for physical and mental wellbeing," he said.

"I think there is a space moving forward for those smaller groups and competitive sessions where people get some exercise ... to cope with that isolation."

Golf clubs in NSW have taken much the same approach, with two members allowed to play at a time, so long as they follow social distancing guidelines while on the course.

Tennis, bearing similarities to golf as an individual sport with plenty of space between participants, could follow a comparable tack in the future.

But for now, Eulenstein said the government made a tough but fair call in the interest of public health.

"You can certainly empathise with the government for making these decisions, because there's no quick fix," he said.

"It's going to take time for things to improve and come back to normal."

Tennis NSW president, Kim Wawrick, said the organisation's focus was the health of its players and limiting the spread of the virus.

"The Board of Tennis NSW met [on Friday, March 27] to consider the continued escalation of the COVID-19 crisis across Australia but most significantly across NSW," Warwick said in a statement.

"Our capital city, Sydney, is now at the epicentre of this pandemic in Australia and the Board feels that it is essential to put the wider community first and foremost in our decision making.

"The Premier has advised us today to not go outside unless we absolutely have to and that was at the forefront of our decision.

"This was not an easy decision to make. We understand and feel the pain of our tennis operators and coaching community, a number of whom sit on our Board, however, we feel that it is a time to put lives before livelihoods.

"As a sport, we could not continue to guarantee the safety of all participants nor of our coaches or volunteers. Therefore, for the time being, we strongly recommend that all tennis activity cease in NSW."

For more information about private coaching sessions, please get in touch with local clubs, preferably through social media.

Further details about minimising risk of contracting coronavirus and how to recognise symptoms can be found at www.health.gov.au.