Djokovic calls for Wimbledon Centre Court start time to be brought forward amid curfew problems

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic has called on Wimbledon authorities to start Centre Court matches early to avoid any clash with the curfew timings.

The third Grand Slam of the year has been affected because of poor weather as a number of matches had to be rescheduled.

Despite those issues, the authorities remained strict with the match starting time of 1300 hrs at the Centre Court.

Djokovic becomes the latest player after Britain’s Andy Murray to call on authorities to change the rule, especially considering there is a curfew time of 11 PM.

"Obviously curfew is probably something that is much more difficult to change, I understand,” he said. “Because of the community and the residential area we are in. I think the matches could be pushed at least to start at 12pm. I think it would make a difference."

Djokovic’s fourth-round encounter against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz was impacted because of the late start and the game was halted after two sets. Fortunately for the 23-time Grand Slam winner, he ended up on the winning side, avoiding the onslaught of his opponent the next day.

However, Murray was not that lucky as despite leading the match with two sets to one, his opponent Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas made a grand comeback the next day and secured the win in five sets to knock the three-time Grand Slam winner out of the competition.