ATP Singapore Open 2021

Fans allowed for matches at weekend

Tennis fans in Singapore can finally attend a live match after Singapore Tennis Open organisers announced yesterday that 250 spectators will be allowed per day for this weekend's semi-finals and finals.

Tickets went on sale at 6pm yesterday and cost $61 each. They can be purchased from Sistic.

All spectators must take a mandatory antigen rapid test before entering the Singapore Sports Hub's OCBC Arena. The cost of the test is included in the ticket price.

They must also undergo temperature taking and Safe Entry check-in using TraceTogether.

They will be allowed into the venue only if their test result, which will take about 30 minutes, is negative.

Spectators are required to observe the safety measures, such as wearing masks at all times, and will not be allowed to change seats or mingle between different groups.

The event, like the mixed martial arts events by One Championship, is another test of how Singapore can safely resume fan events.

Lim Teck Yin, tournament organising chairman and chief executive officer of Sport Singapore, said the safety of all event participants continues to be the organisers' top priority.

He added: "The Singapore Tennis Open has served a promising start and we received tremendous support from the tennis fraternity and local partners.

"We are committed to bringing live action of the world-class sporting event in a safe and secure environment with robust safe management measures."

Tennis fan Melody Foo was excited by the news and said she would try to get a ticket to see one of her favourite players, 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic, if he makes it to the latter stages of the Feb 22-28 tournament.

The 28-year-old said: "I usually travel to watch tournaments, so having one in Singapore is great because I don't have to travel and anyway we can't travel now with Covid-19," she said.

"I love the whole experience about watching a live match because when you're courtside, you can see how fast the ball moves and how hard they're actually swinging, which is harder to see on TV.

"I don't know when I'll get to watch another live event again but there are only 250 tickets so I might have to manage my expectations in case I don't get tickets."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 25, 2021, with the headline Fans allowed for matches at weekend. Subscribe