Wimbledon Will Be Cancelled, Says Tennis Head

After mulling on whether the Wimbledon – one of tennis' grandest stage – will push through, the tournament's governing body has decided to cancel its matches this week due to the effects of COVID-19.

The news came after the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) held an emergency meeting last week and brainstormed on the possible cancellation of the Grand Slam event.

Through Yahoo! Sport, PA Media reported that organizers have been pressured to make a decision, while “bosses” have already ruled out playing the tournament, with all professional tennis matches “currently suspended” until the grass-court season starts on June 7.

The update on Wimbledon was coursed through by German Tennis Federation vice president Dirk Hordoff where he told CNN that the AELTC will gather in an another emergency meeting Wednesday and is expected to make a “final decision.”

“The necessary decisions have already been made there and Wimbledon will decide to cancel next Wednesday. There is no doubt about it. This is necessary in the current situation,” Hordoff said, as he pointed last week's agenda that tackled on all “possible scenarios” surrounding Wimbledon.

Likewise, the AELTC vice president mentioned that travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have made it “completely unrealistic” to gather the sport's biggest names, let alone continue international tennis tournaments alongside its worldwide audience.

The last time Wimbledon was cancelled came in 1945 during the height of World War II, said Yahoo! Sports.

At the same time, the May-bound French Open was also postponed until later in the year, while the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) have yet to determine the future of its respective seasons.

Also known as The Championships, Wimbledon is one of four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, with The Australian Open, the French Open and the U.S. Open being the other three. It was scheduled for a June 29 opening in London.