The pandemic forced a global shift toward staying at home and avoiding large gatherings, which crippled the scheduling of major events worldwide. The impact of COVID-19 was widespread, ravaging industries such as business, healthcare, travel, and sports. In compliance with government directives in India and other countries, strict lockdowns were implemented, keeping people quarantined in their residences for extended periods.
The pandemic health crisis has brought us to stay at home and avoid crowd scenarios, which has impacted a lot of events organised by national and international countries. Coronavirus has burnt various fields, beginning with sports to business, medicine to travel, and various others. Abiding the orders, imposed by the governing bodies, including India, numerous other countries were ordered with lockdown and quarantined themselves in their places, for days and weeks.
Since sports are essentially a form of public spectacle, many disciplines—such as tennis, football, cricket, golf, and shooting—had to halt their tournaments and leagues to stop the virus from spreading further. On April 1, 2020, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club posted an official announcement on Twitter stating that the 2020 tournament was cancelled. They confirmed that the 134th Wimbledon championships would be rescheduled for June 28th through July 11th, 2021.
The announcement sent shockwaves through the tennis community. High-profile athletes, including Sania Mirza, Roger Federer, and Serena Williams, shared their thoughts on Twitter regarding the loss of the 2020 tournament. Upon seeing the AELTC post confirming the cancellation of the Grand Slam, Serena Williams simply expressed her disbelief, tweeting, “I’m Shooked.”
With six Wimbledon titles to her name, including her most recent victory in 2016, Williams is a powerhouse in the sport, boasting additional Grand Slam wins at the Australian Open (4), US Open (2), and French Open (2). Similarly, Indian star Sania Mirza expressed her heartbreak over the removal of such a prestigious tournament from the calendar, posting her disappointment on Twitter accompanied by pensive and crying emojis.
Mirza, who secured a hat-trick of Wimbledon singles titles between 2007 and 2009, was not the only one grieving; Roger Federer, an eight-time champion, posted a GIF with the caption “THERE IS NO GIF FOR THESE THINGS I AM FEELING,” adding the word “Devastated.” Meanwhile, tennis icon Billie King took a more philosophical approach, stressing the importance of solidarity and supporting the decision to cancel for the sake of public health. While she admitted she would miss the atmosphere of Wimbledon, she urged everyone to prioritize their loved ones and do what is ethically right for the sporting community.