Wimbledon players are set to be consigned to Covid-secure hotels for this year’s championships despite an anticipated lifting of national lockdown measures in England.
The championships, which were cancelled last year because of Covid, are scheduled to begin on June 28, a week after Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s anticipated lifting of all coronavirus restrictions.
Players have habitually stayed in rented houses near the All England Club but organisers are investigating the use of designated central London hotels.
A spokesperson for Wimbledon told the Daily Mail: “We are putting in place a variety of infection control measures in line with our aspiration to stage a safe, best practice and trusted event.
“One of the priority measures is a minimised risk environment for the players. As such, based on current guidance, there will be official hotels for all players, their support teams and key groups such as officials, which will be a mandatory requirement for entry into this year’s championships.”
The measure is unlikely to be popular with players, who prefer to stay near to the site with their families but will instead have to endure the prospect of London traffic to and from the site from central London each day.
