Wimbledon to Scrap Day of Rest From 2022

Tennis - Wimbledon Preview - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - June 30, 2019 General view over empty courts. Reuters
Tennis - Wimbledon Preview - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - June 30, 2019 General view over empty courts. Reuters
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Wimbledon to Scrap Day of Rest From 2022

Tennis - Wimbledon Preview - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - June 30, 2019 General view over empty courts. Reuters
Tennis - Wimbledon Preview - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - June 30, 2019 General view over empty courts. Reuters

Wimbledon organizers announced on Tuesday that the traditional day of rest in the middle of the tournament would be scrapped from 2022 as they fine-tune plans for this year's event.

The tournament -- the only Grand Slam played on grass -- is returning this year after it was cancelled in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam that has a day off during the fortnight but this provides scheduling challenges, particularly when there is bad weather in the first week.

At the tournament's spring press briefing, All England Club chairman Ian Hewitt said developments in the care of grass courts meant 14 days of play was now deemed possible.

The change means fourth-round matches, which have all been played on a packed day known as "manic Monday", will be held across two days.

"That second Monday was popular with many people but it did create significant challenges," said Hewitt. "I am not sure if it did full justice to that day's tennis and we feel spreading it over two days does it more justice.

"I think it is important for the development of the sport that Wimbledon should be even more accessible to those who wish to watch it."

England is on track to drop all Covid restrictions on June 21 after a successful vaccination drive, with Wimbledon due to start the following week.

Organizers are planning for a minimum spectator capacity of 25 percent at the event in southwest London, with the hope that this can be increased. Tickets are expected to go on sale in June.

"The reality we are dealing with is how to deliver a tournament under today's (government) guidance," said All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton.

"June 21 is a not-before date and as you can imagine it would be reckless to plan a tournament when one does not know what the conditions are going to be after that

"We are planning the tournament as of what today's conditions are but also capable of showing flexibility and agility if they change."



Carlo Ancelotti’s Son Davide Joins Brazil as an Assistant Coach

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti, right, waits besides his son, assistant coach Davide Ancelotti, second left, for a training session in Munich, April 29, 2024. (AP)
Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti, right, waits besides his son, assistant coach Davide Ancelotti, second left, for a training session in Munich, April 29, 2024. (AP)
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Carlo Ancelotti’s Son Davide Joins Brazil as an Assistant Coach

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti, right, waits besides his son, assistant coach Davide Ancelotti, second left, for a training session in Munich, April 29, 2024. (AP)
Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti, right, waits besides his son, assistant coach Davide Ancelotti, second left, for a training session in Munich, April 29, 2024. (AP)

Brazil's soccer confederation announced on Friday that Davide Ancelotti had joined his father, Carlo Ancelotti, as an assistant coach for the five-time World Cup champions.

Davide Ancelotti started his career as an assistant coach in 2015, following his father at Napoli, Everton, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

Brazil's soccer body said in a statement that the 35-year-old Davide Ancelotti's arrival “represents another step in our search for innovation and technical improvements.”

“His international experience and training methodologies will be fundamental for the players' development and for the construction of an even more competitive team,” it said.

Carlo Ancelotti's debut with Brazil at Ecuador on Thursday ended in a 0-0 draw, which kept the team in the fourth place in the South American World Cup qualifying standings. Davide Ancelotti is expected to be on the bench on Tuesday, when Brazil hosts third-place Paraguay.

Davide Ancelotti initially followed in his father’s footsteps as a professional footballer at AC Milan’s youth team and then at Borgomanero, but he retired at the age of 20 to work in management. He holds a degree in sports science.

Davide Ancelotti's coaching career started in 2012 as a fitness coach at Paris Saint-Germain. He had a similar role at Real Madrid from 2013 to 2015. His first assistant manager position came at Bayern Munich in 2016 and then at the other clubs his father managed.