Why Can’t Wimbledon Championships 2021 Be Postponed to Winter Months?

The Wimbledon Championships is one of the most prestigious sporting events that take place during the calendar year. The various traditions followed at the club during the fortnight add to its reputation and charm. The event is, of course, attended by fans from every corner of the globe and also notable personalities from various different spheres of life.

Last year, the Wimbledon Championships were canceled due to the effects of the global pandemic. It was the first time the tournament was called off since World War 2. But why wasn’t it simply postponed instead of being scrapped like the French Open in 2020?

Maintenance of courts at the Wimbledon Championships is crucial

The Wimbledon Championships is one event on the tennis calendar that cannot be postponed to a date that is too far from the English Summer. There is a short window during which the event can go ahead, which is why it was canceled last year as the effects of the virus extended beyond that period.

To add to the immense planning that goes behind the grass-court Major, it takes approximately 15 months for the tennis courts to be seeded and cut to perfection. After that, it takes another 13 days to micromanage the hard and dry soil below the surface that helps protect players from sustaining damages.

Officials at the All England Club stated, “The very short window available to us to stage The Championships due to the nature of our surface suggests that postponement is not without significant risk and difficulty. Playing behind closed doors has been formally ruled out.”

Tennis back on track after a tumultuous year

The good news is that this time around, with the new season, the Championships will go ahead, beginning on the 28th of June and all the winners will be decided by the 11th of July. While it’s a tournament that all top players usually compete in, players such as Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka have decided to skip the event this year.

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While the absence of Nadal and Osaka is disappointing enough to take some fo the shine off the event, the event still boasts of top names who will certainly provide spectators with fierce and entertaining displays.

On the men’s side, most eyes will be on eight-time champion Roger Federer and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. While on the women’s side, Serena Williams will compete for the trophy at a place she has enjoyed tremendous success.