TheCable

The 2020 Wimbledon tournament has been cancelled for the first time since World War II due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The championships had been scheduled to hold from June 29 to July 12.

The All England Club, the tournament’s management committee, however, announced the cancellation after an emergency meeting on Wednesday — a development which is the first of its kind in 75 years.

“This is a decision that we have not taken lightly, and we have done so with the highest regard for public health and the wellbeing of all those who come together to make Wimbledon happen,” said Ian Hewitt, All England Lawn Tennis Club chairman.

“It has weighed heavily on our minds that the staging of the Championships has only been interrupted previously by World Wars but, following thorough and extensive consideration of all scenarios, we believe it is ultimately the right decision to cancel this year’s Championships, and instead concentrate on how we can use the breadth of Wimbledon’s resources to help those in our local communities and beyond.

“Our thoughts are with all those who have been and continue to be affected by these unprecedented times.”

Some of the game’s most successful players like Roger Federer and Serena Williams took to social media to react to the development.

Devastated https://t.co/Fg2c1EuTQY pic.twitter.com/cm1wE2VwIp

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 1, 2020

I’m Shooked https://t.co/dS0cNcCdm0

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— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) April 1, 2020

The cancellation means there will be no Wimbledon for the first time since 1945.