Murray urges Wimbledon organizers to alter changes to new tournament schedule

Friday, 22 October 2021 at 07:00

Andy Murray has called on the directors of Wimbledon to rethink their new schedule, as the prestigious tournament recently announced a number of changes for the 2022 edition, which include play on Middle Sunday and an earlier Mixed doubles final.

With these changes, there will no longer be a day off, known as "Middle Sunday" and round of 16 action will be spread over that Sunday and Monday. Furthermore, the mixed doubles draw has also been decreased in size, with the final moved up by two days to the last Friday of the tournament, also known as men's singles semi-final day.

Murray, a two-time Wimbledon champion, has urged the directors to change their rescheduled mixed doubles final, asking them to push the final back. The former World No.1 believes this would entice more top singles and doubles players to enter the draw, boosting the star power and interest in the mixed doubles competition, which is exclusive to the four Grand Slams.

"I agree with the changes to mixed doubles making it a smaller draw but not moving final much earlier," wrote Murray on Twitter.

"I think if it started later due to the shorter draw you could make the sign in on Friday afternoon and it finished on Saturday/Sunday it would encourage more top players to play."

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The 34-year old believes that pushing back the mixed doubles final, and therefore the final sign-in date for players to enter the mixed doubles draw, would benefit the tournament as it will allow big names who may have lost earlier in singles to compete in the mixed doubles event.

"Top players who have lost early In singles would be more inclined to play mixed in this scenario I believe," continued Murray. "Right now the sign in for mixed is on Wednesday morning I think..so only top singles players who have lost in the first round may decide to play.

"If you change that to Friday/Saturday sign in you increase that pool of players significantly. More top doubles players would play in this scenario too I think?"