The LTA, in conjunction with the All England Club, the ITF, ATP and WTA, has regrettably announced today the cancellation of the Ilkley Trophy (15-21 June), following the latest advice from the UK Government and the suspension of professional tennis due to the escalating coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The tournament was due to take place at the Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club this summer, but has been cancelled alongside the LTA summer grass court major events programme including the Fever-Tree Championships at The Queen’s Club (15-21 June), Nature Valley International in Eastbourne (20-27 June), Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham (13-21 June) and the Nature Valley Open in Nottingham (6-14 June). The British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships in Nottingham (22-26 July) has also been cancelled, although the LTA has reserved the option to re-stage the tournament later in the season.
This news follows today’s announcement regarding the cancellation of the 2020 edition of The Championships, Wimbledon, along with the ATP, WTA and ITF confirmation that all professional tennis around the world remains suspended until 13 July 2020.
The cancellation period also covers the other ITF Trophy Series event staged by the LTA in Manchester (8-14 June), as well as the ITF junior Grade 1 events in Nottingham (22-27 June) and Roehampton (28 June-3 July) and the ITF Wheelchair events held alongside the Tour events at Birmingham and Queen’s.
For any ticket buyers to the LTA Trophy Series events at Surbiton, Manchester or Ilkley, the face value of any tickets purchased will automatically be refunded via The Ticket Factory. These details will be sent via email or letter from the ticketing providers.
Scott Lloyd, LTA Chief Executive said: “Given the escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the latest government advice and our discussions with the ATP, WTA, ITF and AELTC, it is with deep regret that our summer grass court tournaments and the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships have been cancelled for 2020. This is an unprecedented situation and the health of those attending our tournaments as spectators, players, staff, media, sponsors and guests had to be our number one consideration. We at the LTA will be working hard to support our wider tennis community to allow the sport a strong return to health when conditions allow. In the meantime we hope that our tennis fans are staying safe and we look forward to welcoming them back to tennis when we can.”
Charlie Maunder, Tournament Director for the Ilkley Trophy and Club Manager at Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club commented: “It’s obviously disappointing that we won’t be able to welcome everyone to the club for the Ilkley Trophy this summer but everyone involved understands that keeping healthy and safe is the top priority. The Trophy has become a real highlight of the year for the local community; for tennis fans, volunteers, the young people involved in the outreach programme and ball crew, as well as for the players themselves and the club. We will, instead, look forward to next year when we will see the players and fans return to what will certainly be a celebratory Ilkley Trophy 2021.”
In the coming days, the LTA will be announcing a series of measures to support those involved in tennis in Britain during this unprecedented situation. This will include support for tennis venues, coaches, officials and players affected by the coronavirus pandemic, with the goal of ensuring that tennis in Britain emerges from this period in as strong and healthy position as possible, and the sport is able to resume its unique role in keeping the nation active.
In the meantime, the fans can keep entertained and up to date with their favourite players and news in their living rooms via exclusive content on the LTA’s digital channels @the_lta on Twitter, @LTA on Instagram and LTA – Tennis for Britain on Facebook.