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.
