Wimbledon fans have expressed their frustration with the tournament organizers for scheduling top player matches on Centre Court so late in the day, leading to spectators missing out on seeing the full match. Angry visitors who had paid a significant amount for the best seats voiced their disappointment after Novak Djokovic’s game with Hubert Hurkacz was stopped after two sets. This incident followed Andy Murray’s thrilling match with Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, which was also halted, potentially costing Murray the match.
The decision to start matches on the show courts at 1.30pm, two and a-half hours after the outer courts begin, has caused backlash from fans. Murray had previously criticized the tournament for favoring hospitality packages and bowing to the demands of broadcasters when it comes to scheduling.
There is a sense among spectators that sponsors want their guests to enjoy lunch before the games start on the major courts, while TV stations aim to showcase the biggest talent during primetime.
Ruari Walsh, who had Centre Court tickets for the first time, expressed his dissatisfaction with the scheduling, stating, The scheduling is a joke. We arrived at 11am and finally got to see Djokovic at 9pm, and then the match gets cut short due to the curfew.
Even defending champion Djokovic has called for a change in the start times, suggesting matches could start as early as noon. He believes this adjustment would make a significant difference.
Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Club, has previously acknowledged the appeal of showcasing players like Murray during primetime. However, she has stated that the club will not apply to Merton Council to have matches run later and has no intention of starting matches earlier.
Fans who paid £155 for tickets have expressed their preference for earlier start times. Katie Barber and Charlie Holt, who queued overnight for Centre Court tickets, arrived at 5pm the day before to secure their front-row seats. Ms. Barber stated, We’d be very happy with an earlier start of play, while Ms. Holt added, We’re not going for a posh lunch so we don’t need it later.
Last night, wildcard players Naiktha Bains and Maia Lumsden made history by becoming the first all-British pair to reach the quarter-finals of the Wimbledon women’s doubles in 40 years. After defeating Slovakians Viktoria Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova in three sets, Bains and Lumsden described their achievement as surreal and expressed their joy at becoming the first home partnership to reach the last eight since Jo Durie and Anne Hobbs in 1983.
The scheduling controversy at Wimbledon has left fans frustrated and disappointed, as they feel they are missing out on watching their favorite players in action. However, tournament organizers have stood by their decision, highlighting the importance of allowing spectators enough time to get to the show courts. The clash between the desires of sponsors, broadcasters, and fans for the perfect match timing continues, but for now, the tradition of starting play on the show courts in the early afternoon remains intact.
