Wimbledon to allow full crowds for finals, tournament to start with half capacity

A year after Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since World War II, the 2021 finals will be played with full crowds in attendance on centre court.

They will be the first outdoor sporting events in the United Kingdom to have capacity crowds since the start of the coronavirus pandemic last year.

The move comes despite British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement on Monday that the final stage of easing lockdown restrictions was being delayed to July 19.

The All England Club, which runs the only grasscourt grand slam, said it had worked with the federal and local governments and public health bodies to come to the decision.

A statement said the tournament would start on June 28 “with 50 per cent capacity across the grounds, building to full capacity” for the weekend of the finals.

Recent French Open champion Novak Djokovic is the reigning men’s singles champion, while Simona Halep won the women’s title in 2019.

Reuters