Advantage COVID-19

While the decision to cancel Wimbledon due to the coronavirus is a hard blow to tennis players and fans it was inevitable, especially after the axe dropped on the Tokyo Olympics, Open Championship and several other blue riband events (“Wimbledon cancelled for the first time since WWII due to virus,” April 1, Gulf Today).

This invariably brings to an end the tennis grasscourt season but so could also be case with the full season if things don’t improve in the coming months. In all probability former Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo tweet “I think we’re going to have to draw a line under the 2020 tennis season,” may just come true.

It is for the first time since World War II that this prime British tournament is off the calendar, and the frustration voiced by top-notch players like Roger Federer and Serena Williams implies it a hard pill to swallow.

It’s always a packed calendar for top stars including the eight-time Wimbledon winner Federer and seven-time champion Williams, so this might give them a breather. But on the other hand the cancellation also takes away a season from them. And that means a lot especially for Fed and Williams. Nearing their forties, every season counts for them.  It may well be a different picture come next July.  But we hope to see these legends on court next year. After the announcement of the Halle open announcement, Fed said “we are going through difficult times but we will emerge stronger.” Bet they will.

Ralph R — By email