Federer’s serve for Wimbledon drop-outs
Belarusian star complains of the difficulties of being a parent at Wimbledon as order of play favours men
Roger Federer urged Wimbledon to reconsider its rules to prevent injured players from turning up for an easy pay cheque and then withdrawing, as two retirements on Centre Court left the crowd feeling short-changed yesterday
WITH dozens of matches to pack in during the first few days of Wimbledon, the order of play is always a headache for officials, players and fans.
But the crowded schedule has caused particular problems for one player this week – new mother Victoria Azarenka.
The 27-year-old has complained that she had to spend long hours hanging around the All England Lawn Tennis Club – away from six-month-old baby Leo – while waiting to be told what time her first-round match would start.
With seven-times Wimbledon winner Serena Williams due to give birth in a few months, Azarenka’s comments will add pressure on the organisers to do more to accommodate new mothers returning to the game.
“I had to be here the whole day, which is, for a new mum, a little tough. Hopefully I won’t play like this again,” she said.
The Belarus-born player was one of four players on Monday whose matches were not included in the scheduled order of play and had to wait until court space became available. That meant her match against America’s Catherine Bellis did not start until 7.13pm, and only ended after 9pm, with Miss Azarenka coming back to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.
With media and sponsorship obligations to fulfil, the player did not get home until late, and she said the late scheduling meant leaving Leo at home rather than keeping him near her at the grounds, where there is a creche for players’ children.
There have already been mutterings this week about what some regard as “sexist” scheduling of women’s matches, with claims that men are more frequently allocated show courts.
An analysis of matches scheduled on Centre and No1 courts during the last two years showed a bias in favour of male players.
German player Tatjana Maria, whose four-year-old daughter Charlotte is old enough to be left in the Wimbledon creche, said the tennis world would have to start taking more account of women players with children, and said taking a child on tour was “the most beautiful thing in the world”. A Wimbledon spokesman said: “Both of those matches were scheduled ‘not before 5pm’ on the official order of play, so the competitors have the assurance of knowing their matches won’t be called to court before 5pm and can plan their day around that.”
Azarenka is scheduled first on No3 Court today against Elena Vesnina.