Spectators will not be allowed at the U.S. Open tennis qualifying rounds due to the coronavirus.
The U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) announced the decision on Thursday, stating no fans will be allowed and only the “greatest number of players and their entourages are on site,” The Associated Press reported.
It was a “particularly tough decision” to make, the association added.
It follows a similar decision last year to not allow any spectators at either the qualifying rounds or main event due to the pandemic.
However, capacity at this year’s main draw is still set to return to 100 percent, according to USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier.
“The decision regarding the qualifying tournament, though heartbreaking, will have no impact on fan access to the main draw,” Widmaier said, according to the AP.
The association announced in June there will be no capacity limit on the main tournament that is set to take place from Aug. 30 to Sept. 12.
There were more than 700,000 people at the event in 2019.
The Hill has reached out to the U.S. Tennis Association for further comment.