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Wimbledon cancelled for the first time since World War II

Apr 02, 2020

After much deliberation, Wimbledon has been cancelled, with the entire grass-court tennis season ruled out due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Organisers had hoped to hold off making a final decision for a few more weeks, but an emergency board meeting yesterday, it was decided that he two-week tournament would be cancelled rather than postponed.

English tennis aces, including Andy and Jamie Murray as well as Johanna Konta, have voiced their disappointment, but agree that organisers made the right move, insisting that health and safety come first.

Wimbledon is the latest major summer sporting event to be called off, after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed last week

It is also the second Grand Slam tournament to be a affected by COVID-19, after the French Open, which was due to begin in May, was rescheduled to September, just one week after the completion of the US Open.

Since the first Wimbledon tournament in 1877, there have only been 10 years where it has not been held, all of them due to war, and since 1946, Wimbledon has been staged every year.

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All Champions League and Europa League matches suspended until further notice

UEFA has decided to suspend all Champions League and Europa League fixtures until further notice, amid concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

All national team games in June have also been postponed, including play-off matches for Euro 2020, which has already been postponed to 2021.

Last month, it was already decided that the finals of the Champions League and the Europa League, both of which were scheduled for May, will be postponed, but dates have yet to be set.

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Neymar-Griezmann swap?

Barcelona are reportedly hoping to close a part-exchange deal for Neymar, that would see Antoine Griezmann join PSG this summer.

The Catalan club are prepared to let Griezmann go after just one season to help fund the priority signings of Neymar and Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez, as the financial crisis brought on by COVID-19 bites at the Nou Camp.