Coronavirus: Players ‘devastated’ as Wimbledon cancelled

Tournaments leading into Wimbledon are also abandoned, meaning no professional tennis until at least July.

Roger Federer wins the Men's Singles semi-final in 2019. Picture: Getty Images.

The Wimbledon tennis tournament has been cancelled for the first time since World War Two because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Top tennis players have expressed their dismay that the two week tournament, due to be played between June 29 and July 12 has been abandoned.

Men’s superstar Roger Federer, who was hoping to add to his 20 grand slams this year, wrote on Twitter “devastated,’’ with a gif flashing “there is no gif for how I am feeling’’ while the women’s star Serena Williams said: “I’m shooked’’.

Devastated https://t.co/Fg2c1EuTQY pic.twitter.com/cm1wE2VwIp

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 1, 2020

The tournaments leading into Wimbledon, such as the Eastbourne Classic and Queen’s tournament have also been abandoned, meaning there will be no professional tennis until mid-July at the earliest. But there is doubt about the US Open at Flushing Meadows in August and some tennis players believe there will be no action for the entire season.

Wimbledon 2006 champion Amelie Mauresmo said this week: ”I think we are going to have to draw a line under the 2020 tennis season.

“An international circuit = players of all nationalities, as well as coaches, spectators and those coming from all four corners of the world to bring these events to life.

“No vaccine = no tennis.”

I’m Shooked https://t.co/dS0cNcCdm0

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) April 1, 2020

Wimbledon officials said they took the decision at least four weeks before construction was due to start on erecting the grandstands on the site to provide “certainty’’.

The club had insurance and will be covered for the majority of costs of refunding tickets, broadcasters and suppliers, estimated to be in the region of £200m.

In a statement announcing the cancellation, the All England Club said public health concerns brought about by mass gatherings and the strain on the medical and emergency services, as well as movement and travel restrictions both within the UK and around the world were uppermost in their thinking.

They said: “With the likelihood that the government’s measures will continue for many months, it is our view that we must act responsibly to protect the large numbers of people required to prepare The Championships from being at risk – from the training of ball boys and girls to thousands of officials, line judges, stewards, players, suppliers, media and contractors who convene on the AELTC Grounds – and equally to consider that the people, supplies and services legally required to stage The Championships would not be available at any point this summer, thus ruling out postponement.’’

The Wimbledon decision follows the 12 month postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to July 2021.

The French Open, due to be held in May, is rescheduled for late September.

Ian Hewitt, All England Club chairman, said: ”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 it is ultimately the right decision to cancel this year’s Championships, and instead concentrate on how we can use the breadth of Wimbledon’s resources to help those in our local communities and beyond.’’