Emergency meeting to decide if Wimbledon can take place

Postponement and cancellation on the agenda

Andy Murray celebrates his 2013 Wimbledon win. The prospects of the Championships being played this year are receding. Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire

The prospect of this year’s Wimbledon being cancelled is looking increasingly likely after the All England Lawn Tennis Club called an emergency board meeting for next week.

Pressure has been growing on organisers to make a decision, with Wimbledon one of the biggest events still remaining on the 2020 sports calendar.

A statement from the club read: “The AELTC can confirm that it is continuing a detailed evaluation of all scenarios for the championships 2020, including postponement and cancellation, as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.”

Organisers have ruled out playing the tournament, which is due to start on 29 June, behind closed doors and admitted postponing would be difficult.

Moving to the slot vacated by the postponed Olympics is not an option because the dates are too close to the current schedule.

All professional tennis is currently suspended until the start of the grass-court season on June 7.

Wimbledon chief executive Richard Lewis said: “The unprecedented challenge presented by the Covid-19 crisis continues to affect our way of life in ways that we could not have imagined, and our thoughts are with all those affected in the UK and around the world.

“The single most important consideration is one of public health, and we are determined to act responsibly through the decisions we make.

“We are working hard to bring certainty to our plans for 2020 and have convened an emergency meeting of the AELTC main board for next week, at which a decision will be made.”