LONDON: Wimbledon organisers have scrapped the oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament for the first time since World War II as the coronavirus wreaks further havoc on the global sports
The cancellation of the only grasscourt major at London’s All England Club leaves the season in disarray with no tennis set to be played until mid-July. Wimbledon was due to run for two weeks from June 29, with Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep set to defend their singles titles.
Eight-time champion Roger Federer said he was devastated, while Serena Williams, who has won the tournament seven times, said she was shocked by the momentous decision. Tournament chiefs bowed to the inevitable on Wednesday, saying in a statement that they had made the decision with “great regret”.
All England Club chairman Ian Hewitt said the decision to cancel Wimbledon had not been taken lightly. “It has weighed heavily on our minds that the staging of The Championships has only been interrupted previously by world wars,” he said. “But, following thorough and extensive consideration of all scenarios, we believe that it is a measure of this global crisis that it is ultimately the right decision to cancel this year’s Championships.”
It is with great regret that the AELTC has today decided that The Championships 2020 will be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus epidemic.
The 134th Championships will instead be staged from 28 June to 11 July 2021.https://t.co/c0QV2ymGAt
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) April 1, 2020
Halep tweeted her disappointment. “So sad to hear Wimbledon won’t take place this year,” she said. “Last year’s final will forever be one of the happiest days of my life! But we are going through something bigger than tennis and Wimbledon will be back! And it means I have even longer to look forward to defending my title.”
Two-time champion Petra Kvitova said the cancellation was tough to take. “I will miss playing on the beautiful grass and wearing my whites, BUT of course we know it will be back better than ever next year. And maybe we will all appreciate it even more!” she tweeted.
So sad to hear @Wimbledon won’t take place this year. Last year’s final will forever be one of the happiest days of my life! But we are going through something bigger than tennis and Wimbledon will be back! And it means I have even longer to look forward to defending my title ???? pic.twitter.com/PmppwUuKtD
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) April 1, 2020
My thoughts on @Wimbledon ???? pic.twitter.com/0K7NX0Z10h
— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) April 1, 2020
The decision to cancel Wimbledon was widely expected with the world struggling to contain the spread of COVID-19. Organisers had ruled out playing the event behind closed doors while postponing it would also have created its own problems with shorter days later in the English summer.
The ATP and WTA have also cancelled the grasscourt swing in the build-up to the tournament, meaning the tennis season will not now restart until July 13 at the earliest.
The US Tennis Association said it was sticking to its August 31 to September 13 dates for the US Open in New York. “At this time the USTA still plans to host the US Open as scheduled, and we continue to hone plans to stage the tournament,” it said in a statement. “The USTA is carefully monitoring the rapidly changing environment surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, and is preparing for all contingencies.”
Devastated https://t.co/Fg2c1EuTQY pic.twitter.com/cm1wE2VwIp
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 1, 2020
