Wimbledon organisers are expected to announce the cancellation of the grasscourt grand slam on Wednesday due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to the German Tennis Federation (DTB) vice-president Dirk Hordorff.
All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) officials earlier said the 29 June-12 July event would not be played behind closed doors and postponement was not without significant risk and difficulty.
The AELTC is continuing to monitor and respond to the coronavirus situation, working closely with the government and relevant health authorities.
While we continue to plan for The Championships at this time, it remains a continuously evolving situation.https://t.co/Tc4fSuPs9Z
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) March 17, 2020
Hordorff told Sky Sports Germany on Monday that the tournament would be cancelled following a board meeting on Wednesday.
The AELTC did not respond to a request for comment.
The postponement of the Tokyo Olympics opened up a two-week window in the tennis calendar in July/August, but it is less likely that it will be feasible for Wimbledon, which has only two covered courts and cannot be held past late summer.
French Open organisers stunned the tennis world by unilaterally postponing the claycourt grand slam at Roland Garros from May until late September because of the pandemic.
The new dates mean the tournament is scheduled to a week after the conclusion of the US Open on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows in New York.
The French Tennis Federation (FFT) came under heavy fire from tennis players around the world at the lack of communication as the new dates clashed with several other events already featuring on the calendar.
The men’s ATP Tour and the WTA, which runs women’s tournaments, require their players to participate at the four Grand Slams, but the new French Open dates are yet to feature on the calendars of either association.
