Andy Murray talking to the referee before the match against Stefanos Tsitsipas was suspended. Credit: PA/John Walton
Thursday night, Andy Murray was on a roll and on the verge of his best Wimbledon win since 2016. Then the curfew was announced 20 minutes early at 10:40 pm and he was forced to go home in the middle of the match, returning on Friday to try to finish the task.
Murray found himself in this situation in part because compatriot Liam Brody's five-set match earlier in the day against Kasper Ruud lasted almost three and a half hours, causing the game to be delayed. The second match, Elena Rybakina's victory over Alize Cornet in sets, lasted 1 hour 48 minutes. But it's hardly a marathon, and Murray's match was only the third one scheduled on Center Court.
What remains in question is the decision to kick off at 13:30 on Center Court.
Wimbledon could change . Center Court Schedule
That the organizers failed to complete three matches on their main exhibition court should be a red flag. But after Thursday's debacle — and the two-day rain breaks earlier in the week — the All England Club hasn't changed its plans to avoid shutting down yet another late-night thriller on Friday. in fact, they were even more ambitious. Four matches were scheduled on the main exhibition court on Friday: Murray's final match (which he lost), world No. 1 Iga Swiatek's match, and two men's matches — Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alexander Müller and Novak Djokovic vs. Stan Wawrinka, which were the latter. .
The only small concession made by the AELTC was to reduce the 20-minute break between matches on Center Court to 10 minutes.
Here are a few reasons why the organizers consider 13:30 to be the golden rule.
1) Player Priority
Tickets to Center Court on Friday are £130 and some spectators travel from afar . to enter the most famous tennis arena in the world.
If the schedule shifts, the organizers fear their travel plans could be derailed and some of their most paying customers won't be able to enjoy the venue. and even a pre-game snack.
But on Court No. 1, the game starts at 13:00, so it's safe to say that Center Court's tight schedule could be moved forward by at least half an hour. This could help Murray finish the match and earn a ticket to the third round.
2) Full stands
The organizers are proud to start the game with full stands at their exhibition grounds.
Unlike other majors, including the French Open, where players sometimes take to rue Philippe-Chatrier for half-empty stands at the start of the day, Center Court is almost always crowded at 13:30. This is partly because players have time to socialize, eat and wander around the other courts in the morning enjoying the full Wimbledon experience.
3) Grass Protection
The grass on Center Court and No. 1 Court is treated with the utmost care. Only a year ago, the best players were allowed to play on the court for the first time before the tournament: two-hour slots became available on Friday and Saturday before the main draw.
There is constant concern about the wear and tear of the grass, and now that there is no mid-Sunday, when the courts used to rest — it has become an even finer balance for ground personnel.
Increasing the number of hours spent on the center court threatens to wear the surface faster. That's fair, but matches are getting longer — Grand Slam matches for men are almost 25% longer than they were in 1999 — and the schedule should reflect this.
Свежие комментарии