Marion Bartoli has spoken out about a mystery illness that has caused her weight to plummet and left her unable to play in this year's Wimbledon invitational matches.

The 31-year-old French star appeared on today's This Morning where she told presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield she caught a virus in India in February that has left her with severe allergies to everything from food to electrical items.

She said: 'My body started refusing more and more things - anything from food to electrical items. I can't type on my phone without gloves, I can't wear my jewellery as I get a bad skin reaction.

Marion Bartoli has spoken out about the mystery illness that has caused her weight to plummet

The tennis star she said her life has become a nightmare due to a debilitating condition which is affecting everything from what she wears, to what she eats and how she washes

Marion pictured arriving at the ITV studios today, said she spoke out as she doesn't want people to think 'I did this to myself' referring to her weightloss

'I can't even have a tissue on my face as my body reacts, it is horrendous. My life is nightmare right now, I wouldn't wish what I am going through on anyone.

'I even need to wash with mineral water as I can't use tap water.'

Marion explained that following blood tests, doctors have confirmed she has an 'internal virus they can't name'.

She said she can't wait to go to a special clinic on Monday where she will begin treatment.

Asked if she fears for her life, Marion said: 'Yes, of course maybe my heart will stop. Going through all this is difficult.'

Her ordeal has been heightened by being in the public eye, with people previously blaming her dramatic three stone weightloss on an eating disorder.

The 31-year-old French star appeared on today's This Morning where she told presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield she caught a mystery virus in India in February that has left her with severe allergies

Marion said she wanted to speak out about her health in case there were others suffering in the same way

The tennis star said she hopes to be back to her 'old smiley self' after starting treatment on Monday

Marion heads into the This Morning studio where she spoke about her ordeal over her health

Fans have been concerned about the gaunt appearance of former Wimbledon champion since she returned to SW19 to commentate on this year's grand slam.

The 31-year-old French star has looked a shadow of the athlete she was when she won the coveted Wimbledon title in 2013 and people took to Twitter to speculate that she must have anorexia.

After she was then ruled out of playing in a ladies' invitational doubles exhibition match at the All England Club on Tuesday on 'medical grounds', Marion confirmed she was in fact suffering from a virus.

The French player said that she was deeply upset that she is unfit to play in the Ladies’ Invitation Doubles - an exhibition match to be held in the second week of the tournament.

The French tennis star said she wouldn't wish what she is going through on anyone

The former Wimbledon champ has lost three stone as her body is rejecting food due to developing allergies. She can't even wash with tap water as her skin reacts to it

Fans have been concerned about the dramatic change in her appearance since she won Wimbledon in 2013

She said her 'passion' for work as a commentator and developing a fashion line has been what has kept her going through her ordeal.

On why she chose to appear on This Morning today, she said she wanted to explain what is happening to her so people don't think 'I did this to myself on purpose.'

She said: 'I wanted to explain, maybe there is someone else out there with this who needs support.

'I am surviving right now and pray to go back to a normal life.'

She added that she hopes her treatment will help her get back to her 'old smiley self.'

She explained that she had been happy following her retirement from tennis and had started to lose some weight thanks to losing muscle mass by stopping her old training regime.

But from February her weightloss accelerated after she was struck down with the virus.

She said she had visited India in order to promote the French Open and to launch a competition to get Indian children involved in the tournament.

The stop off came as she flew between commentating in Australia for the Australian Open and on to New York to launch her clothing line with Fila at Fashion Week.

She said: 'I started to feel tired an fatigued while I was in New York but I thought it was from the three long flights in a row and jetlag.

'I think I picked up the virus in India or it could have been on of the plane rides. After New York Fashion Week I to Miami and Dallas and that is when I felt worse and worse.'

Since then, she said her life has become a nightmare as her debilitating condition is affecting everything from what she wears, to what she eats and how she washes.

She believes it is the inner strength she has - which helped her become a tennis champion - that is keeping her going and she hopes treatment at the specialist clinic will mean 'normal life' can resume.

This is not the first time Marion has faced public scrutiny of her figure.

During Wimbledon 2013, John Inverdale caused controversy when he said on Radio Five Live that she had worked hard to became a tennis player as she was 'never going to be a looker'.

He has since apologised profusely for the remark and Marion said she did not take it to heart in a press conference after her victory.