- Tourney now holds June to July 2021
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – With the world’s biggest sporting fiesta, Tokyo 2020 Olympics, down and out due to the coronavirus pandemic, the coast was clear that no other event in the sporting world will dare survive this ominous global health threat.
So, on Wednesday, April 1, 20020, when The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) finally made official what the tennis community had already resigned themselves to hearing, not many pundits and aficionados were surprised.
All hail the cancellation of year 2020 tennis Championships at Wimbledon. Quite historic indeed. It marks the first time in 75 years that the grass-court major will not be held as scheduled. No thanks to the growing list of global sporting events adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Part of the statement by AELTC said; “The Championships 2020 will be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus epidemic.”
After the AELTC announced last week that an emergency meeting had been scheduled with The Main Board, rumours had already circulated over the weekend that the decision had already been made behind closed doors.
This cancelation is the first time the grass-court major will not be taking place since 1945, when the tournament was abandoned for the sixth straight year due to World War II.
Consequently, the Main Board of the All England Club (AELTC) and the Committee of Management of The Championships said the 134th Championships will now be staged from June 28 to July 11, 2021. – Additional reports from Tennis.com
