12-time Grand Slam champion Mahesh Bhupathi believes that the cancellation of Wimbledon will hit Roger Federer and Serena Williams the most as they approach the final years of their careers. In an exclusive conversation with WION Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, Bhupathisaid that he believes that the current lockdown due to the coronavirus will have larger ramifications when it comes to the battle for the greatest tennis player of all time between Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.

Heartbroken at Wimbledon cancellation 'virus rewriting history books in tennis' | Mahesh Bhupathi

The organisers of Wimbledon are set to receive a mammoth insurance payout after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the iconic tennis event. As per multiple reports, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) purchased a pandemic insurance policy for 17 straight years at a cost of around $2 million per annum. Reportedly, the organisers of Wimbledon sought a pandemic clause after the SARS outbreak in the year 2003.

With the pandemic insurance policy in place, the organisers of Wimbledon will receive an estimated $141 million after the cancellation of the tournament, as per reports. Notably, Wimbledon wouldn’t have been eligible for the clause had the organisers decided to postpone it rather than cancelling the tournament.

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The pandemic insurance policy will give Wimbledon the upper hand to control and short-term financial difficulties. As per a report, the 2020 Wimbledon was supposed to generate more than $300 million in revenue.

AFLAC CEO Richard Lewis addressed the pandemic insurance clause. “We’re fortunate to have the insurance and it helps,” Lewis told a leading British daily. “The insurers, the brokers and everybody involved have been excellent to work with so far, but there’s still a lot of work to do.”

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Earlier, the organisers had announced that The Championships 2020 stood cancelled due to public health concerns linked to COVID-19 pandemic while adding that the 134th Championships will is now scheduled to stage from June 28, 2021, to July 11, 2021.

“It is with great regret that the AELTC has today decided that The Championships 2020 will be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus epidemic. The 134th Championships will instead be staged from 28 June to 11 July 2021,” the official account of Wimbledon had tweeted. 
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The organisers of Wimbledon are set to receive a mammoth insurance payout after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the iconic tennis event. As per multiple reports, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) purchased a pandemic insurance policy for 17 straight years at a cost of around $2 million per annum.

The organisers of Wimbledon are set to receive a mammoth insurance payout after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the iconic tennis event. As per multiple reports, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) purchased a pandemic insurance policy for 17 straight years at a cost of around $2 million per annum. Reportedly, the organisers of Wimbledon sought a pandemic clause after the SARS outbreak in the year 2003. With the pandemic insurance policy in place, the organisers of Wimbledon will receive an estimated $141 million after the cancellation of the tournament, as per reports. Notably, Wimbledon wouldn’t have been eligible for the clause had the organisers decided to postpone it rather than cancelling the tournament. ALSO READ: 'Sit back and relax at home' - Kapil Dev dismisses Shoaib Akhtar’s proposal of India-Pakistan charity series to fight against COVID-19 The pandemic insurance policy will give Wimbledon the upper hand to control and short-term financial difficulties. As per a report, the 2020 Wimbledon was supposed to generate more than $300 million in revenue. AFLAC CEO Richard Lewis addressed the pandemic insurance clause. “We’re fortunate to have the insurance and it helps,” Lewis told a leading British daily. “The insurers, the brokers and everybody involved have been excellent to work with so far, but there’s still a lot of work to do.” ALSO READ: Premier League stars launch '#PlayersTogether' campaign to support NHS charities Earlier, the organisers had announced that The Championships 2020 stood cancelled due to public health concerns linked to COVID-19 pandemic while adding that the 134th Championships will is now scheduled to stage from June 28, 2021, to July 11, 2021. “It is with great regret that the AELTC has today decided that The Championships 2020 will be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus epidemic. The 134th Championships will instead be staged from 28 June to 11 July 2021,” the official account of Wimbledon had tweeted.

Wimbledon set to receive $141 million after paying for pandemic insurance for 17 years: Reports

Wimbledon looks certain to be scrapped for the first time since World War II by tournament chiefs on Wednesday as the coronavirus wreaks further havoc on the global sporting calendar.

The cancellation of the only grasscourt Grand Slam tournament at the All England Club would leave the tennis season in disarray after the French Open was controversially moved and all events cancelled until June 7.

Wimbledon, in leafy southwest London, is due to run for two weeks from June 29, with Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep set to defend their singles titles.

A decision to scrap the tournament is widely expected, with the world struggling to contain the spread of COVID-19, which has infected more than 840,000 people worldwide and killed over 40,000.

Lead-up tournaments in the short grasscourt season are also likely to be scrapped following talks on Tuesday, understood to have involved Wimbledon chiefs and the game's governing bodies.

Organisers had earlier ruled out playing the Grand Slam behind closed doors and postponing the event would also create its own problems.

Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker on Tuesday pleaded for tournament chiefs to wait longer before making a decision.

"I really hope Wimbledon will wait until the end of April for decision!" he tweeted. "The tourney is first week of July... patience is a virtue."

But former women's world number one Amelie Mauresmo, the 2006 Wimbledon champion, said the 2020 season would probably need to be scrapped.

"I think that we are going to have to draw a line under the 2020 tennis season," she tweeted.

The cancellation of Wimbledon could mean multiple champions Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Venus Williams have played at the All England Club for the final time.

Federer and Serena will be nearly 40 by the time of the 2021 championships and Venus will be 41.

Serena, beaten in last year's final by Halep, is stuck on 23 Grand Slam singles titles -- agonisingly one away from equalling Margaret Court's record.

The conditions required to play on grass in England mean a postponement is impractical and a date later in the summer or early autumn would mean much shorter evenings.

"Each week that passes, you get less and less light to play the tournament," doubles specialist Jamie Murray told the BBC.

American giant John Isner, who won the longest-ever tennis match over three days at Wimbledon in 2010, said the scrapping of the tournament would be a "tough pill to swallow".

"We may have to come to grips with the fact that we may not be playing Wimbledon this year," he told ESPN on Tuesday.

"Wimbledon sort of has to be played this (same) time of year," Isner said.

"With that surface, the event, it seems, has to be played this time and there's a good chance it won't be."

The French Tennis Federation provoked widespread anger with its unilateral decision to move the French Open from its original May 24 start date to begin on September 20.

That puts the start only one week after the planned date of the US Open men's final.

Wimbledon looks certain to be scrapped for the first time since World War II by tournament chiefs on Wednesday as the coronavirus wreaks further havoc on the global sporting calendar.

Wimbledon looks certain to be scrapped for the first time since World War II by tournament chiefs on Wednesday as the coronavirus wreaks further havoc on the global sporting calendar. The cancellation of the only grasscourt Grand Slam tournament at the All England Club would leave the tennis season in disarray after the French Open was controversially moved and all events cancelled until June 7. Wimbledon, in leafy southwest London, is due to run for two weeks from June 29, with Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep set to defend their singles titles. A decision to scrap the tournament is widely expected, with the world struggling to contain the spread of COVID-19, which has infected more than 840,000 people worldwide and killed over 40,000. Lead-up tournaments in the short grasscourt season are also likely to be scrapped following talks on Tuesday, understood to have involved Wimbledon chiefs and the game's governing bodies. Organisers had earlier ruled out playing the Grand Slam behind closed doors and postponing the event would also create its own problems. Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker on Tuesday pleaded for tournament chiefs to wait longer before making a decision. "I really hope Wimbledon will wait until the end of April for decision!" he tweeted. "The tourney is first week of July... patience is a virtue." But former women's world number one Amelie Mauresmo, the 2006 Wimbledon champion, said the 2020 season would probably need to be scrapped. "I think that we are going to have to draw a line under the 2020 tennis season," she tweeted. The cancellation of Wimbledon could mean multiple champions Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Venus Williams have played at the All England Club for the final time. Federer and Serena will be nearly 40 by the time of the 2021 championships and Venus will be 41. Serena, beaten in last year's final by Halep, is stuck on 23 Grand Slam singles titles -- agonisingly one away from equalling Margaret Court's record. The conditions required to play on grass in England mean a postponement is impractical and a date later in the summer or early autumn would mean much shorter evenings. "Each week that passes, you get less and less light to play the tournament," doubles specialist Jamie Murray told the BBC. American giant John Isner, who won the longest-ever tennis match over three days at Wimbledon in 2010, said the scrapping of the tournament would be a "tough pill to swallow". "We may have to come to grips with the fact that we may not be playing Wimbledon this year," he told ESPN on Tuesday. "Wimbledon sort of has to be played this (same) time of year," Isner said. "With that surface, the event, it seems, has to be played this time and there's a good chance it won't be." The French Tennis Federation provoked widespread anger with its unilateral decision to move the French Open from its original May 24 start date to begin on September 20. That puts the start only one week after the planned date of the US Open men's final.

Wimbledon set to be cancelled for first time since WWII

Wimbledon organisers will announce the cancellation of the grasscourt Grand Slam this week due to the coronavirus pandemic, German Tennis Federation (DTB) vice-president Dirk Hordorff has told Sky Sports.

All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) officials earlier said the June 29-July 12 event would not be played behind closed doors and postponement was not without significant risk and difficulty.

“Wimbledon has stated that they will have a board meeting next Wednesday and will make the final decision there,” Hordorff told Sky Sports Germany.

“I am also involved in the bodies of the ATP and WTA. The necessary decisions have already been made there and Wimbledon will decide to cancel next Wednesday. There is no doubt about it. This is necessary in the current situation.

“It is completely unrealistic to imagine that with the travel restrictions that we currently have an international tennis tournament where hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world would travel. That is unthinkable.”

The AELTC did not respond to a request for comment.

The postponement of the Tokyo Olympics opened up a two-week window in the tennis calendar in July/August but it is less likely that it will be feasible for Wimbledon, which has only two covered courts and cannot be held past late summer.

French Open organisers stunned the tennis world by unilaterally postponing the claycourt Grand Slam at Roland Garros from May until late September because of the pandemic.

The French Tennis Federation (FFT) came under heavy fire from tennis players around the world at the lack of communication as the new dates clashed with several other events already featuring on the calendar.

The men’s ATP Tour and the WTA, which runs women’s tournaments, require their players to participate at the four Grand Slams, but the new French Open dates are yet to feature on the calendars of either association.

“The unilateral behaviour of the organizers has been criticized by everyone and I can simply predict that the French Open will not be relocated as it was intended,” Hordorff said.

He said either the FFT would go ahead with the new dates and feel the wrath of the entire tennis world or they have the option to start working with others to draw up a plan that makes sense for everyone.

“They will be deprived of the points and they will degenerate into a chaos event,” he said.

“Even those there have understood that and they are slowly crawling back. Solidarity is the order of the day, it is a matter of being together and not going it alone, as the president of the French Tennis Association did.”

Wimbledon organisers will announce the cancellation of the grasscourt Grand Slam this week due to the coronavirus pandemic, German Tennis Federation (DTB) vice-president Dirk Hordorff has told Sky Sports.

Wimbledon organisers will announce the cancellation of the grasscourt Grand Slam this week due to the coronavirus pandemic, German Tennis Federation (DTB) vice-president Dirk Hordorff has told Sky Sports. All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) officials earlier said the June 29-July 12 event would not be played behind closed doors and postponement was not without significant risk and difficulty. “Wimbledon has stated that they will have a board meeting next Wednesday and will make the final decision there,” Hordorff told Sky Sports Germany. “I am also involved in the bodies of the ATP and WTA. The necessary decisions have already been made there and Wimbledon will decide to cancel next Wednesday. There is no doubt about it. This is necessary in the current situation. “It is completely unrealistic to imagine that with the travel restrictions that we currently have an international tennis tournament where hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world would travel. That is unthinkable.” The AELTC did not respond to a request for comment. The postponement of the Tokyo Olympics opened up a two-week window in the tennis calendar in July/August but it is less likely that it will be feasible for Wimbledon, which has only two covered courts and cannot be held past late summer. French Open organisers stunned the tennis world by unilaterally postponing the claycourt Grand Slam at Roland Garros from May until late September because of the pandemic. The French Tennis Federation (FFT) came under heavy fire from tennis players around the world at the lack of communication as the new dates clashed with several other events already featuring on the calendar. The men’s ATP Tour and the WTA, which runs women’s tournaments, require their players to participate at the four Grand Slams, but the new French Open dates are yet to feature on the calendars of either association. “The unilateral behaviour of the organizers has been criticized by everyone and I can simply predict that the French Open will not be relocated as it was intended,” Hordorff said. He said either the FFT would go ahead with the new dates and feel the wrath of the entire tennis world or they have the option to start working with others to draw up a plan that makes sense for everyone. “They will be deprived of the points and they will degenerate into a chaos event,” he said. “Even those there have understood that and they are slowly crawling back. Solidarity is the order of the day, it is a matter of being together and not going it alone, as the president of the French Tennis Association did.”

Wimbledon will be cancelled, says German tennis official - report