Wimbledon 2021: No rush to get to London
In contrast to previous years, participants in the 2021 Wimbledon tournament are not allowed to find private accommodation. You have to go into a bubble. In response, many stars arrive later.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Jun 17, 2021, 06:35 am
Roger Federer does not yet qualify as a bubble expert, he frankly admitted that after his defeat against Félix Auger-Aliassime in HalleWestfalen. His long break in play may have set him back in terms of sport, but the maestro did not have to deal with the restrictions of the "normal" tour operations in times of Corona. Yes, Federer was at the start of the French Open, so he also knows the bubble existence. The US Open 2020, the Australian Open at the beginning of this year - the maestro, who was still convalescent at the time, had left out all of these events, which were characterized by the strictest framework conditions. But Roger Federer also knows that such a bubble is a reason to come to a tournament later. And be it the season highlight at Wimbledon.
Then there is the question of “how”. Philipp Kohlschreiber, for example, said in his first press conference in Halle that he had been advised to avoid the plane. Too great a risk that a positive case will open up among the other passengers. See also the not inconsiderable number of players who had to be quarantined before the Australian Open. On the other hand, Kohlschreiber has little desire to take the train to London from his place of residence in Munich. So the third option is a flight to Paris - and the onward journey by train. Which makes Kohlschreiber doubt the usefulness of this operation. Because traveling to the French capital by plane is associated with the same risks as traveling to the British one.
Djokovic and Medvedev from Mallorca
Unless you have the capabilities of a Novak Djokovic . Or Roger Federer. The latter has not yet decided when to go to London. One can assume, however, that Federer does not float in the wood class of a Swiss Air machine on the island. But with a private plane. Just like Djokovic, who, according to reports, would also let Lorenzo Musetti jump up on the way to London. Before that, the industry leader played the tournament on Mallorca, the nomination at least for the double competition was not so surprising in the end: After all, Novak Djokovic saved himself an early trip to the local bubble in Roland Garros. And preferred to put the finishing touches on at the tournament in Belgrade.
An example that seems to be catching on. Because on Mallorca Daniil Medvedev is now expected in addition to Dominic Thiem, who has been planning with it for a long time. He didn't want to throw himself out of the tranquil Hale to London all the time, prefers to take the 250 in Santa Ponsa with him. It cannot be ruled out that tournament director Edwin Weindorfer will discover a few prominent callers on his mobile phone display in the next few hours. Because hardly anyone is in a hurry to get to London this year. Unless you have committed yourself to an event like the one at Queen's Club at an early stage. There, however, the occupation of those in Halle could not hold a candle.