Will Wimbledon 2020 tennis go ahead on schedule?

Decision coming next week on Wimbledon 2020

Novak Djokovic /Serbia ©imago images / Hasenkopf 26.03.2020

Next week a decision will be made about whether or not Wimbledon 2020 will go ahead. The Covid-19 outbreak has decimated the sporting calendar for the year with many sports facing uncertainties about rescheduling.

Wimbledon, which is the third tennis Grand Slam of the season is set to be played from June 29th to July 12th. The preceding French Open has already been moved to start in late September 2020.

Shutdown uncertainty

Already the ATP and the WTA regular season Tours are on shut down until June 7th, which would leave a little bit of playing time ahead of Wimbledon potbelly. But even the current showdown on the regular tennis season is still up in the air because of the impact of the coronavirus.

The June 7th date was an extension with play initially hoping to be resumed in late April and early May.

But it’s not just that either. Wimbledon takes a couple of months of behind-the-scenes action in terms of preparation which involves a lot of people. With social isolation becoming the norm, then even getting the tournament ready for the summer doesn’t sound particularly feasible at the moment.

Rescheduling Wimbledon is problematic

With Wimbledon being the only grass-court Grand Slam of the season, then that does raise some issues about the playing surface, should the tournament need to be moved to later in the year.

The growth, preparation and maintenance of the surface would be difficult. So it would be extraordinarily difficult for Wimbledon to be moved to after the rescheduled French Open.

The recent announcement that the Olympics 2020 have been cancelled would open a potential window for Wimbledon to go ahead. But that time frame would only be a three-week window. That’s not likely to make too much of a difference.

2020 Wimbledon betting

There are betting markets still open currently for the 2020 Wimbledon tournament. For the men’s side it is reigning Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic who is the 6/4 favourite followed by Roger Federer at 4/1 and Rafael Nadal at 5/1* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 00:41 GMT on Thursday 26th March 2020).

Wimbledon 2020 Men’s Winner Odds*

Novak Djokovic 6/4
Roger Federer 4/1
Rafael Nadal 5/1
Daniil Medvedev 10/1
Stefanos Tsitsipas 14/1
Alexander Zverev 25/1
Dominic Thiem 16/1
Milos Raonic 25/1
33/1 bar
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 00:41 GMT on Thursday 26th March 2020).

Wimbledon 2020 Womens’ Winner Odds

Serena Williams 6/1
Simona Halep 8/1
Ashleigh Barty 9/1
Bianca Andreescu 10/1
Karolina Plksivoa 12/1
Garbine Muguruza 12/1
Naomi Osaka 14/1
Petra Kvitova 14/1
Sofia Kenin 16/1
Johanna Konta 16/1
Cori Gauff 1/4/1
Aryna Sabalenka 22/1
Madison Keys 22/1
Elina Sviotlina 25/1
Angelique Keber 25/1
33/1 bar
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 00:41 GMT on Thursday 26th March 2020).

Serena Williams, despite not having won a Grand Slam title since the 2017 Australian Open, is the current 6/1 outright favourite in the Women’s winner’s market* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 00:41 GMT on Thursday 26th March 2020).

Reigning champion Simona Halep, who beat Williams in the 2019 Final, is an 8/1 option followed by Ashleigh Barty at 9/1.