Wimbledon moved back a week from 2015

Wimbledon is to be moved back a week in the calendar from 2015, the All England Club have announced.

The alteration is designed to allow a greater gap after the end of the French Open and help improve players’ preparations for the grass-court grand slam.

The next two tournaments will retain their current place in the schedule, with the 2015 championship taking place between June 29 and July 12.

Philip Brook, chairman of the All England Club, said: “The best interests of tennis will be served by allowing the players more time to recuperate and to adjust from the clay of Roland Garros to the grass at Wimbledon.

“All our research indicates that there is widespread support within the game for extending the gap between the French Open and Wimbledon and, importantly, we think most players will welcome the prospect of a longer grass-court season and spending more time on the softer surface of grass.

“In making this change from 2015 we recognise that there will be some important consequences for the overall tennis calendar and enough time needs to be given to allow us all to plan accordingly.

“In anticipation of the work required, I would like to thank our colleagues throughout the game for their enthusiasm and support for the vision of a tennis calendar that will better suit the needs of the modern day sport.”