Coronavirus: Wimbledon nears postponement

2020-03-25T19:45:34.574Z

Organizers of the British Grand Slam have suggested that a postponement or even cancellation is possible due to the Covid-19 epidemic.

The Wimbledon tournament, which should be played from June 29 to July 13, is threatened. This Wednesday, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) expressed itself in a press release following the Covid-19 epidemic. The organizer specifies for the first time that a postponement or even a cancellation of the British Grand Slam is plausible. "An emergency meeting of the AELTC Main Council is scheduled for next week, and in preparation, we are communicating closely with the LTA and with ATP, WTA, ITF and the other Grand Slams," said the communicated. The organizers state that "playing behind closed doors is strictly excluded".

While Roland-Garros has already been postponed for a week from September 20 to October 4, the British Grand Slam may have trouble finding a niche in a calendar that promises to be overloaded in the last quarter. The postponement of the Tokyo Olympics could open up a window, but that would lead to a mere 15-day delay which, obviously, would not solve any problem. The fact remains that for the moment, in the international sports calendar, Wimbledon remains one of the last major events, with the Tour de France cycling race, not to have been deprogrammed or simply canceled.

The AELTC is continuing a detailed evaluation of all scenarios for The Championships 2020, including postponement and cancellation, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.https: //t.co/BjlPiyuTtf

- Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) March 25, 2020