Murray backing calls for fairer split

Andy Murray has backed calls from Venus Williams and French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko for more women’s matches to be played on the show courts.

Five-time Wimbledon winner Williams was handed a Centre Court slot for her tussle with Ana Konjuh and British home favourite Johanna Konta played Caroline Garcia on Court One.

But those were the only women’s fourth-round matches played on the biggest two courts on ‘Magic Monday’, and All England Club chief executive Richard Lewis said that was down to demand.

“I wouldn’t say it’s favouritism. I would say it’s taking the marquee matches,” Lewis said. “It’s not about male or female, in the end it’s about which matches you feel the public and broadcasters want to see.”

In the opening seven days of play, 14 matches on Centre Court have been from the men’s singles draw with only eight from the women’s.

Murray was on Centre Court for his match against France’s Benoit Paire and the world No 1 agreed the schedule should be more balanced.

“Obviously I think ideally you would have two men’s and two women’s on Centre,” the Scot said.

“If there’s better matches on the women’s side than the men’s side, you can flip it. If there’s better matches on the men’s side, then that has to go first, as well.

“So maybe starting the matches a little bit earlier in the day, and splitting them between the men and women. It’s not the hardest thing to do.”