The historic tennis tournament, Wimbledon, won’t go ahead this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The grand slam was meant to take place from June 20 to July 12 this year.
Instead, the dates for next year’s tournament have been released, with the event running from June 28 to July 11, 2021, as reported by the ABC.
“It has weighed heavily on our minds that the staging of The Championships has only been interrupted previously by World Wars,” Ian Hewitt, chairman of The All England Club, said in a press release.
“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, and instead concentrate on how we can use the breadth of Wimbledon’s resources to help those in our local communities and beyond.”
According to the ABC, Wimbledon is the oldest grand slam tournament — it was first held in 1877.
As Hewitt mentioned, the tennis event has only previously been cancelled due to war. The tournament didn’t take place from 1915 to 1918 due to World War I and from 1940 to 1945 because of World War II.
Tennis players have reacted to the news on social media, with Roger Federer simply writing “devastated,” alongside a gif that reads “There is no gif for these things that I am feeling.”
Devastated https://t.co/Fg2c1EuTQY pic.twitter.com/cm1wE2VwIp
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 1, 2020
Last year’s Wimbledon ladies’ single’s champion, Simona Halep, reflected on her win writing “Last year’s final will forever be one of the happiest days of my life!”
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
Serena Williams also expressed her surprise on Twitter, but kept it short and sweet:
I’m Shooked https://t.co/dS0cNcCdm0
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) April 1, 2020
The current health crisis is evolving rapidly. If you suspect you or a family member has coronavirus you should call (not visit) your GP or ring the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
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