Pakistan Today (Lahore)

WIMBLEDON WILL BE CANCELLED, BELIEVES JAMIE MURRAY

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CANCELLING Wimbledon is the only realistic option open to organis ers as they grapple with the chaos caused by the coronaviru­s, says two time Grand Slam men’s doubles champion Jamie Murray.

Tennis is at a standstill until June 7, with the entire European clay court season already wiped out and the only Grand Slam event played on grass is expected to be officially can celled on Wednesday.

Wimbledon organisers have ruled out play ing the two week tournament, slated to run from June 29 to July 12, behind closed doors.

The French Open has already been post poned, shoehorned into the schedule in late September, and it will be difficult for Wimble don to rearrange.

Murray, a Wimbledon men’s doubles final ist in 2015 and a two time mixed doubles champion, said postponing the tournament pre sented a series of hurdles, including shorter evenings.

“I think for them, it’s difficult to move the tournament back because you’re running into other tournament­s that are for the moment still on the schedule,” the 34 year old Scotsman told the BBC on Tuesday.

“And also just things like daylight to host the event. Each week that passes, you get less and less light to play the tournament. “Obvi ously they play until nine and 10 o’clock each night at Wimbledon.”

Murray, whose younger brother Andy is a two time Wimbledon singles champion, is kicking his heels in the absence of tennis.

“I’m just at home, taking the necessary precaution­s, and trying to stay as active as I can,” he said.

“It’s different. We’re used to being on the road all the time, used to being in different cities every week, and you kind of become in stitutiona­lised to that.”

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