What’s next for Wimbledon: 5th-set tie-breaks?
LONDON: Despite stiff competition from a certain soccer tournament in Russia, it was a memorable Wimbledon. There were upsets galore, superstar comebacks, marathon fifth sets and poignant scenes of parenthood. There was even a throwback dance involving the men’s champion, Novak Djokovic, and the women’s champion, Angelique Kerber, late on Sunday night at the champions’ dinner formerly known as the Wimbledon Ball.
This anachronistic tournament — who plays tennis on grass anymore? — somehow remains one of the essential events in global sports and a pillar of its own game.
But with professional tennis seeing more infighting over change, Wimbledon is continuing its transformation.
Centre Court finally got a roof in 2009, guaranteeing that rain could no longer disrupt an entire day’s play at the All England Club. No 1 Court will have a roof for next year’s tournament, and the massive white structure is already on the grounds.
“I think it’s going to change the tournament more than people realise,” said Richard Lewis, Wimbledon’s chief executive.
Roger Federer made his first trip to No 1 Court since 2015 and responded by squandering a match point in a quarterfinal loss to Kevin Anderson.
Djokovic had successfully lobbied to play that day on Centre Court, where he defeated Kei Nishikori on his way to his fourth Wimbledon title, but Lewis said Djokovic’s request was not a decisive factor.
Other issues that surfaced — or resurfaced — this year remain up for debate.wimbledon officials sound increasingly open to the idea of a fifth-set tiebreaker — currently used only at the US Open and in Davis Cup. Anderson’s six-hour-36-minute defeat of John Isner in the semifinals stretched to 26-24 in the fifth set.
Anderson’s and Isner’s marathon disrupted the schedule of the final weekend, leading to Djokovic and Nadal finishing on Saturday and delaying the start of the women’s final between Kerber and Serena Williams.
Another issue was when a roof could be reopened during a match. It was closed for the start of Djokovic’s and Nadal’s match because of darkness and it stayed closed on a sunny Sunday because Djokovic declined to approve its reopening. “The referees’ office were unanimous in saying the match must be played under a roof unless both players agree,” Lewis said.
Gender equity in scheduling remains an issue on Wimbledon’s main show courts, though the club made progress this year in the early rounds with a moreeven mix of men’s and women’s singles matches. The club also broke with practice and chose to seed Serena Williams 25th, even though she was ranked outside the top 100. “The seeding of Serena from a Wimbledon perspective was nothing to do with maternity,” Lewis said.