France, Sept. 25 -- French Open supremo Guy Forget on Friday described a government order to allow only 1,000 spectators a day into the tournament as a tough blow.

"We've taken note of the government's decision," Forget told France Info. "We're ready, all the players are here but it's true it's a tough blow for the tournament."

The French Tennis Federation (FFT), which organises the French Open - nicknamed Roland Garros - had planned for 11,500 spectators a day in three hermetically sealed zones from 27 September.

That vision was in jeopardy from the moment on Thursday when the French prime minister Jean Castex placed a 1,000 spectator limit on sports events taking place in 'red zones' such as Paris where the number of coronavirus is r...