The Wimbledon championships were cancelled for the first time since World War Two, as the coronavirus pandemic wiped out the entire tennis grasscourt season. Wimbledon had been one of the few events not to have been officially cancelled or postponed.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) 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.”
Tickets holders will be offered the chance to purchase tickets for the same day and court for 2021 championships as well as being issued with a refund for this year’s event. Wimbledon has been held every year since 1946 after a six-year hiatus because the country was at war.
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