THE inevitable news that Wimbledon has been cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic has also dealt a blow to the Ilkley Trophy - the popular ATP Challenger and ITF Women's Futures tournament that was due to precede it.

Wimbledon, called off for the first time since 1945, was due to be held between June 29 and July 12, but was cancelled after an emergency board meeting at the All England Club today.

The popular Ilkley Trophy was earmarked for two weeks before that in the June 15-21 slot, but will now not go ahead either.

The ATP and WTA main-tour tournaments that come before Wimbledon at Nottingham (women only), Birmingham, Queen's Club and Eastbourne, as well as the second-tier events at Surbiton, Nottingham (men only) Ilkley and Manchester, are all confirmed as being off.

Unlike the French Open, which is played on clay and has already been moved from next month to September 20-October 4, the English grass-court season is much more limited in length.

There would have been issues with daylight if Wimbledon was held much later in the summer, as play there often extends beyond 9pm.

The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club said in a statement: "It is with great regret that the AELTC has today decided that The Championships 2020 will be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus epidemic.

"The 134th Championships will instead be staged from June 28 to July 11, 2021."

Wimbledon is the latest major summer sporting event to be cancelled due to the coronavirus, following the Euro 2020 football championships and the Tokyo Olympics, both of which have been moved to 2021.