Wimbledon, which has a rich heritage of tennis tradition, has a remarkable curfew that forces players to halt their matches and leave the court. With the addition of Centre Court‘s roof in 2009, the curfew was put in place to create a balance between the tournament’s activities and the welfare of the nearby residential neighborhood.
As a result of the curfew, some Wimbledon matches have occasionally been put on hold and then resumed on a different day. Consequently, the participants pick up where they left off and continue playing later.
What is Wimbledon’s 11 pm curfew?
When Andy Murray and Stefanos Tsitsipas’ second-round match was abandoned after three sets on Thursday night, Wimbledon’s curfew went into force. Even though Centre Court and No. 1 Court have roofs and floodlights, there are limitations on how late matches may go on at SW19.
The curfew begins at 11 p.m. local time and has been in effect since 2009 when Centre Court’s roof was installed. The Merton Council adopted it as a planning requirement taking into account the neighborhood that surrounds the competition.
The curfew seeks to achieve a compromise between the size of the big tennis tournament and the safety of the local residents. Important factors to take into account include transportation accessibility and ensuring guests return safely.
Previous matches have been interrupted, including the 2019 match between Kyrgios and Humbert and also back in 2018 in the semi-final between Djokovic and Nadal. The curfew has occasionally been slightly extended to allow for ongoing games. To achieve safety and comfort for the citizens and the competition, the All England Club and the municipality stay in touch and use discretion.
Andy Murray questions 20-minute Halt with Stefanos Tsitsipas before curfew
Sadly, the Wimbledon tournament’s 11 p.m. curfew caused Andy Murray’s second-round match against Stefanos Tsitsipas to be called off after three sets. Due to previous matches running late, the match was postponed earlier in the day.
When play was suspended, Murray appeared to be in the driver’s seat, leading 6-7, 7-6, 6-4. Murray, though, suffered a serious injury when he slipped on the court shortly prior to the suspension.
Murray was able to finish the third set despite the fall before officials concluded that there was not enough time to continue the match. This circumstance brings to light Murray’s prior remarks about wanting earlier scheduling so he could spend more time with his kids. The match delay was partially caused by Tsitsipas’ previous match running late.
Murray’s tenacious effort and Tsitsipas’ strong game were on display throughout the actual encounter. Murray relied on his judicious serving, while Tsitsipas showcased outstanding forehand strokes.
By taking advantage of Tsitsipas’ errors in the second set tie-break, Murray staged a tremendous comeback. Tsitsipas’ shot-making suffered as the match went on as he appeared to lose concentration and even showed signs of anger.
Murray’s match is scheduled to resume on Friday, although time once again played a part in his Wimbledon victory. For the second match of the day, he is set to return to Centre Court in an effort to build on his outstanding showing and earn a victory.
