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The list of sports events canceled or postponed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic goes on; first it was the NBA season, then the Olympic Games, and now Wimbledon has been nixed due to “public health concerns linked to the coronavirus epidemic,” according to the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
“It is the Committee of Management’s view that cancellation of The Championships is the best decision in the interests of public health, and that being able to provide certainty by taking this decision now, rather than in several weeks, is important for everyone involved in tennis and The Championships,” the club said in a Wednesday statement.
Devastated https://t.co/Fg2c1EuTQY pic.twitter.com/cm1wE2VwIp
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 1, 2020
I’m Shooked https://t.co/dS0cNcCdm0
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) April 1, 2020
This marks the first time Wimbledon, which was originally scheduled to take place from June 29 to July 12, has been canceled since World War II, and tennis stars have been quick to express their disappointment on social media; on Wednesday, Roger Federer tweeted that he was “devastated,”, with Serena Williams chiming in, “I’m Shooked.”
Tennis legend Billie Jean King shared a message of support for the decision on Twitter, writing, “I fully understand and support the decision of the committee and it is vital we keep our focus on those most impacted by this pandemic.”
My thoughts on the cancellation of #Wimbledon. pic.twitter.com/gWPoOJLUXH
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) April 1, 2020
Although Covid-19 has had an indelible effect on the sports world, it hasn’t yet canceled all competitions; the U.S. Tennis Association said on Tuesday that the U.S. Open would proceed from August 24 through September 13 as scheduled, although the French Open has been postponed by roughly four months—to just one week after the American tournament.
Originally published on Vogue.com
