The Wimbledon championships were cancelled for the first time since World War Two on Wednesday as the coronavirus pandemic struck another blue-riband sports event off the calendar.
The development meant a wipe-out of the entire tennis grasscourt season.
The decision had looked inevitable for some time, since the virtual shutdown of world sports and the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics.
But Wimbledon had been one of the few events not to have been officially cancelled or postponed.
However, after emergency talks between the various stakeholders over the last few days, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) made its announcement.
It said it was impossible for the grasscourt Grand Slam, scheduled for June 29 to July 12, to take place.
“It is with great regret that the main board … 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.”
Following the cancellation of the grasscourt major, and with the pandemic worsening in Europe and the U.S, the men’s ATP Tour, women’s WTA Tour and the International Tennis Federation extended the suspension of professional tennis for another five weeks to July 13.
“At this time, tournaments taking place from July 13, 2020 onwards are still planning to proceed as per the published schedule,” said a joint statement from the governing bodies.
Britain’s death toll from the virus reached 2,352 on Wednesday, according to NHS figures.
The French Open, originally due to be held from May 24 to June 7 was postponed.
It was controversially rescheduled by the French tennis federation for Sept. 20 to Oct. 4, shortly after the end of the U.S. Open.
The U.S. Open organisers said they were continuing with their plans to host the hardcourt Grand Slam in New York as scheduled from Aug. 31 to Sept. 14.
Players across the tennis fraternity have since reacted with shock and sadness at the cancellation of Wimbledon.
Roger Federer, whose record haul of 20 Grand Slam titles includes eight Wimbledon trophies, said he was “devastated”.
“There is no gif for these things that I am feeling,” he added.
In a statement from the organisers of the Halle Open, which was also cancelled, Federer said: “We are going through difficult times but we will emerge stronger.
“I already look forward to returning to Halle next year. Stay healthy.”
Former Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo did not think either the U.S. Open or the French Open would go ahead this year.
“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 re-arranging 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.
There is a lack of light and there are 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.
“While in some ways this has been a challenging decision, we strongly believe it is not only in the best interests of society at this time, but also provides certainty to our colleagues in international tennis.
“This is in the face of the impact on the grass court events in the UK and in Europe and the broader tennis calendar,” AELTC Chief Executive Richard Lewis said.
Tickets-holders will be offered the chance to purchase tickets for the same day and court for 2021 championships.
They will also be issued with a refund for this year’s event, organisers added.
Wimbledon had been held every year since 1946 after a six-year hiatus because the country was at war.
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