Wimbledon CEO: "We hope to see Roger Federer and Serena Williams in 2021"

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Wimbledon CEO Richard Lewis is hoping Roger Federer and Serena Williams will be able to participate at the 2021 edition of the Championships after the COVID-19 pandemic forced organizers to cancel the historical tournament this year.

Federer had surgery on his right knee after Match for Africa 6, and his come back on the court was scheduled for the grass-swing, but now there are many doubts about the entire 2020 tennis season. The Swiss Maestro and the American were among the first players to react to the news by expressing their disappointment and sadness.

Lewis said: “We would love to see them both again. It's something we can't wait for. We hope we will have even more fun next year." Meanwhile, ATP and WTA extended the suspension of the season at least until July 13th.

Craig Tiley, CEO of Tennis Australia, has confessed that there are currently no guarantees that he will be able to resume playing by the end of 2020. “It is a difficult situation for everyone. It would be really wonderful if the sport could recover.

But I don't think it's unrealistic to say that there will be no more tennis in 2020. My optimism leads me to think that things will work out sooner than we imagine," said Lewis In any case, thanks to insurance taken out in 2003, at the time of the SARS epidemic (a policy provided in the event of viral pandemics) it will help Wimbledon to save a large part of the profit, covering almost £100 million.