10 July 2023 , 18:29
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Novak Djokovic is the latest man to call for a change at Wimbledon with the 11pm curfew continuing to cause issues.
The Serbian saw his efforts on Sunday night curtailed as he led Hubert Hurkacz by two sets before the players were forced off court shortly before the curfew. It meant the defending champion had to return to Centre Court on Monday, eventually beating his opponent in four sets.
Wimbledon's issue stems from their scheduling with play on the outside courts beginning at 11pm. Centre Court matches do not get underway until 1.30pm though with Court 1 matches starting half an hour earlier. It means completing three separate matches is often difficult with the players paying the price.
Djokovic made his views known as he said: "Obviously curfew is probably something that is much more difficult to change, I understand, because of the community and the residential area we are in. I think the matches could be pushed at least to start at 12:00. I think it would make a difference."
The 23-time Grand Slam champion went on to add: "Even though it was nice for us to get a chance in the last couple of years to practice on the Centre Court before the tournament starts, I have to say I'm not a fan of that. I would rather have no practice at all on the Centre Court before the tournament starts.
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"I think that would help the court. It also is the most sensitive surface we have in the sport. So you can feel the grass wearing out even after few practice sessions already, getting the beating from the sliding and running and so forth."
Several players have been denied their rest day as a result of matches being played across two days since the championships began. Andy Murray fell victim of it earlier in the tournament against Stefanos Tsitsipas when he was leading two sets to one before he was forced off, only to get beaten in a five-set thriller after the two players returned the following day.
The Scot, a two-time champion at SW19, made his views known by retweeting a post calling for 1:30pm Centre Court starts to be scrapped to allow matches to start at "least an hour earlier". His brother Jamie appeared to agree with the sentiment by tweeting: "Another night. Confirmed."
The 11pm curfew was introduced in 2009 after the roof was built on Centre Court. Merton Council only allowed the roof to be built if Wimbledon chiefs agreed to the curfew.
"The 11pm curfew is a planning condition applied to balance the consideration of the local residents with the scale of an international tennis event that takes place in a residential area," read a statement from Wimbledon in 2018. "The challenge of transport connectivity and getting visitors home safely is also a key consideration."