Tennis stars won't avoid Wimbledon, UK

A host of the biggest stars in world tennis say the thought of skipping Wimbledon is not something they will entertain, despite recent terror attacks in the UK.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia

Novak Djokovic say tennis stars are not worried about competing at Wimbledon next month. (AAP)

Novak Djokovic and other players at the French Open say they are not worried about competing at Wimbledon next month despite the recent terrorist attacks in Britain.

Djokovic, a three-time champion at Wimbledon, said Sunday that he still plans on going to the tournament in London.

"I didn't get to that thought of: 'Oh, should I go? Should I not go to London with myself, my family?' Because it can happen anywhere. I mean, if it happens in London, happens in Paris, Nice, it can really happen anywhere," Djokovic said.

"I mean, if we live in fear, you know, that's not life. ... If it's a destiny for you to be somewhere in some place in a wrong time, I mean, it can happen to all of us, God forbid."

Britain suffered its third major attack in three months when men using a van and knives killed seven people in the area surrounding London Bridge and Borough Market on Saturday night.

"When I heard about it today, obviously I was (as) upset as everyone," he added.

"It's very disturbing that one of the biggest cities in the world, most important cities in the world, some of the most popular locations in the town, suffering these terrorist attacks."

There was a similar attack on Westminster Bridge in London, in March, that left five people dead.

And on May 22, a suicide bomber killed 22 people and injured dozens at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester.

"I'm sure Wimbledon's on top of that stuff," said Britain's Jamie Murray, the brother of world No.1 Andy Murray.

"That seems to be the world that we have to live in these days, which is not much fun for anyone. But I guess you just have to trust in the authorities and the people that are in charge that they know what they're doing."

Rafael Nadal, who has won two Wimbledon titles and is seeking a 10th at the French Open, said: "With these kind of things, you cannot feel 100 per cent safe."

"It's tough to accept these kind of things, but it's happening very often today and (it) is difficult to change that for the moment."

France is still under a state of emergency after a string of Islamic extremist attacks, including two in Paris.

The French Open continues until next weekend and Wimbledon starts July 3 at the All England Club in London's south-west.

"It's obviously very awful what's happening, or what's happened the last few weeks, and obviously what happened here in the past, as well," said former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki.


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Source: AAP


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