Coronavirus: Wimbledon tennis to be cancelled this week - reports

Grand Slam event set to fall after emergency meeting on Wednesday

Novak Djokovic of Serbia kisses the trophy after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland in the men's final at Wimbledon in 2019. The Grand Slam attracts the best players in the world, and a host of celebrities. To see who was there last year, and who will miss out in 2020, swipe the picture. EPA

Sir David Attenborough, centre, sits in the Royal Box on Centre Court. Wimbledon always attracts a host of celebrities, but they are set to miss out this year. AP

Pippa Middleton in the Royal Box during Wimbledon 2019. Getty

Former football player David Beckham was at Wimbledon 2019. Getty

Actor Jude Law and his wife Phillipa Coan. Getty

Former football manager Sir Alex Ferguson in the Royal Box in 2019. Getty

Bear Grylls and his wife Shara Grylls. Getty

Actor Hugh Grant and his wife Anna Elisabet Eberstein. Getty

Golfer Nick Faldo in the Royal Box. Reuters

Comedian Michael McIntyre and his wife Kitty McIntyre. Getty

Former Golfer Gary Player of South Africa. Getty

Actors Damien Lewis and his wife Helen McCrory. AP

British singer Leona Lewis, centre, sits in the Royal Box. AP

Former Wimbledon champion Michael Stich. AP

Actress Claire Foy. AP

Entrepreneur Richard Branson and his daughter Holly. Getty

Actress Maggie Smith in the Royal Box. Getty

Trevor McDonald in the Royal Box. Reuters

Former British Prime Minister John Major and his wife Norma sit in the Royal Box. AP

Wimbledon will become the second tennis Grand Slam to fall victim this season to the coronavirus, according to reports.

The All England Club are set to announce its marquee tournament will be cancelled this summer after holding an emergency meeting on Wednesday, reports The Telegraph.

The All England Club, which hosts Wimbledon, are understood to have originally given themselves until the end of next month to make a decision – when they traditionally begin building stands – but the rapidly developing pandemic has reportedly forced their hand.

This year’s event was to be played from June 29-July 12. Once announced, it would mark the first time the championships have been cancelled since the Second World War.

In an interview on Germany’s Sky Sports on Sunday, German tennis administrator Dirk Hordorff said Wimbledon would be called off, as would the grass-court events leading up to it.

“The grass tournaments have already decided not to play," said Hordorff, the vice-president of the German Tennis Federation.

"They are awaiting the announcement of Wimbledon on Wednesday. These are not rumours: they will announce the cancellation."

Speaking last week, All England Club chief executive Richard Lewis said: “The single most important consideration is one of public health. We are working hard to bring certainty to our plans for 2020.”

The coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on all major sport, including tennis, with its ATP and WTA tours shutdown until June. Earlier this month, it was confirmed the French Open has been postponed, an option not available to Wimbledon because it is played on grass.

The French Tennis Federation’s decision to move the season’s second Grand Slam, initially set for May, to September has been heavily criticised by players.

With a new date of September 20-October 4, the Roland Garros event would begin only seven days after the US Open final in New York, meaning players would have to contest the clay court tournament in the middle of the hardcourt season.