JAKARTA - The COVID-19 pandemic or the corona virus has yet to show signs of ending. A number of sports agendas were disrupted, the schedule was messy. Tennis is no exception.
Chief Executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) Richard Lewis said, Friday, April 3, tennis may not be able to play a single tournament this year. Tennis could host another tournament in 2021.
Lewis continued that the possibility occurred given that almost all clay and grass court tournaments this year had been canceled. One of them,
Wimbledon, which was canceled on Wednesday, was the first time since World War Two.
Lewis, who will resign in July, said he still hopes the situation will recover in the next few months so that a cement field tournament or hardcourt can be held before the American Open starts on August 24.
"What still makes me optimistic - I'm not optimistic more often - still hope that the American hard court season can still be held; Montreal, Toronto and then Cincinnati," Lewis told The Guardian, launching Tennis 365.
"I don't find it unrealistic to say that maybe this year there will be no more tennis tournaments. But let's hope that the American Open and Roland Garros can be held."
The French Open, which was supposed to be held from May 24 to June 7, was also postponed and unilaterally pushed back to September 20 - October 4, one week after the American Open finished.
Big players such as eight-time champion Roger Federer and seven-time women's singles champion Serena Williams expressed disappointment at not being able to play at Wimbledon this year.
Both players are 38 years old and are nearing the end of their careers. Lewis hopes that both of them still want to play at the All England Club in 2021.
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