The All England Club have cancelled this year’s Wimbledon due to the coronavirus pandemic following an emergency board meeting on Wednesday.
Wimbledon had hoped to hold off making a final decision for a few more weeks but chief executive Richard Lewis announced that had been brought forward to an emergency board meeting at which it was decided to cancel rather than postpone the two-week grass-court tournament.
Main-draw play at Wimbledon was due to start on June 29 and preparations for the tournament are supposed to begin in late April, requiring significant numbers of people on site.
But the conditions required to play on grass means fans will have to make do for a year without Wimbledon for the first time since 1945.
Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep will not be able to defend their singles title this summer
Specific insurance to cover for a disease pandemic such as the coronavirus means Wimbledon is in a good situation financially, and the Lawn Tennis Association would also still receive the usual surplus – which exceeded £40m in 2018 – that makes up a huge chunk of its funding.
The preceding grass-court tournaments in Nottingham, Birmingham, Queen’s Club and Eastbourne are also likely to be affected. (Sky Sports)
