Wimbledon caves in to outbreak

THE Wimbledon championships were cancelled for the first time since World War II as the coronavirus pandemic wiped another blue-riband sports event off the calendar yesterday.

While the decision had looked inevitable for some time, since the virtual shutdown of world sport and the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Wimbledon had been one of the few events not to have been officially cancelled or postponed.

But after emergency talks between the various stakeholders over the last few days, the All England Lawn Tennis Club announced that it was impossible for the grasscourt Grand Slam, scheduled for June 29-July 12, to take place.

“It is with great regret that the main board of the All England Club and the committee of management of the championships have today decided that The Championships 2020 will be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus epidemic,” the AELTC said in a statement.

“The 134th Championships will instead be staged from June 28 to July 11, 2021.”

All England Club Chairman Ian Hewitt said the decision 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 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.”

The decision also prompted the men’s ATP Tour and the women’s WTA Tour to cancel the grasscourt swing in the build-up to Wimbledon.

The ATP Tour and the WTA Tour were already suspended until at least June 7 but it looks extremely unlikely that any professional tennis will be possible throughout the summer as the pandemic worsens in Europe and the United States.

Britain’s death toll from the virus reached 2,352 yesterday, according to NHS figures.

The French Open, originally due to be held from May 24-June 7, has been postponed and controversially rescheduled by the French tennis federation for September 20-October 4, shortly after the end of the US Open. The Flushing Meadows event is still scheduled to be played in New York from August 31 to September 13.

But former Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo doubts whether either tournament will be played.

“I think we’re going to have to draw a line under the 2020 tennis season,” Mauresmo said on Twitter this week.

“International circuit = players of all nationalities plus management, spectators and people from the 4 corners of the world who bring these events to life. No vaccine = no tennis.”

Unlike the French Open which is played on clay, Wimbledon’s scope for rearranging the start date was extremely limited.

While Centre Court and Court One boast a roof, playing elite level tennis outside on grass would have been extremely challenging in late summer or autumn with a lack of light and problems caused by dew forming on the surface late in the day.

Shortening the format of the tournament, or playing behind closed doors, would also have proved extremely unpopular with the players.

The tournament was first held in 1877 and has been contested every year since, with the exception of two stretches: from 1915-18 because of World War I, and from 1940-45 because of World War II.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep of Romania are the defending singles champions.

(Agencies)