German tennis chief: ‘Wimbledon will be cancelled. There is no doubt about it’

Wimbledon will not take place in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic with German Tennis Federation (DTB) vice-president Dirk Hordorff saying playing at the All England Club in autumn “would be unthinkable”.
There will be no tennis until June 7 after the sport’s powers that be opted to cancel all tournaments due to COVID-19.
Although the campaign is due to get underway with the grass-court season, governing bodies have admitted that there are no guarantees that tennis will resume on June 8.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club confirmed last week that they would have an emergency board meeting in the next seven days to discuss whether or not The Championships should go ahead.
Hordorff, though, says the decision has already been made.
“Wimbledon has stated that they will have a board meeting next Wednesday and will make the final decision there,” he told Sky Sport.
“I am also involved in the bodies of the ATP and WTA. 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.
“It is completely unrealistic to imagine that with the travel restrictions that we currently have an international tennis tournament, where hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world would travel. That is unthinkable.”
Roland Garros organisers jumped the gun earlier in March as they announced that the French Open, which was due to start end of May, would be moved to September.
Their decision did not go down well with a lot of people, but Hordorff doesn’t think Wimbledon is not really in a position to reschedule the tournament due to conditions.
“Wimbledon has its own laws due to the lawn and the special lighting conditions,” he said. “Wimbledon was the only Grand Slam tournament many years ago predictive enough to insure itself against a worldwide pandemic, so that the financial damage should be minimised there.
“Of course Wimbledon also has enough reserves to last for several years. Wimbledon in the period of September, October, when nobody knows whether you can play, would be unthinkable due to the lawn situation.”
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @T365Official.
Latest
-
French Open
‘Carlos Alcaraz the most complete 20-year-old, but his backhand gets a B+’
How many Grand Slams will Carlos Alcaraz win?
-
French Open
Tennis should use video replays, says Cameron Norrie after latest umpiring gaffe
British No 1 benefited from a double bounce during his win against Lucas Pouille.
-
Tennis News
Novak Djokovic admits being fuelled by ‘drama’ as Kosovo comments fall-out continues
The Serbian stayed away from political statements after his second-round win over Martin Fucsovics in Paris.
-
French Open
French Open day four: Carlos Alcaraz and Taro Daniel produce tweener special, Nick Kyrgios a happy man
The story of the fourth day of action at the French Open.
-
French Open
Novak Djokovic reveals what is driving him towards French Open glory
Novak Djokovic admitted he is fuelled by drama as the fall-out continued from his controversial message about Kosovo after his latest win.
-
French Open
Carlos Alcaraz ‘really happy with my level’ after win over world No 97
World No 1 dropped set to world No 97.
-
French Open
Cameron Norrie ‘sorry to take another Frenchman out’ at French Open
The British number one took on the French Open crowd again in a 6-1 6-3 6-3 victory.
-
News
Home hope Caroline Garcia suffers shock exit at Roland Garros
Garcia saved eight match points but could not find a way through to the last 32.
-
French Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas says that playing on clay cleanses his soul
Stefanos Tsitsipas really loves playing on clay and he isn’t afraid to let it show.
-
French Open
Peyton Stearns credits college tennis with preparing her for intense French Open atmosphere
Peyton Stearns upset former French Open champions Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.