“Where’s the consistency?”: Novak Djokovic frustrated with Wimbledon roof decision against Auger-Aliassime

Wednesday, 08 July 2026 at 01:00

Novak Djokovic expressed his frustration towards a Wimbledon tournament supervisor after officials announced that the Centre Court roof would be closed during his quarter-final clash against Felix Auger-Aliassime. The decision came at the end of the second set, with both players wanting to continue playing outdoors rather than moving the match under the roof.

Djokovic had won a tightly contested opening set through a tie-break, but Auger-Aliassime responded strongly in the second set by taking it 6-3 to level the match. With the contest evenly balanced, Wimbledon officials informed both players that the roof would be closed at 7:40 pm, a decision that immediately drew criticism from the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

The Serbian questioned why the tournament had decided to close the roof at that moment, arguing that there was still enough daylight available to continue playing outdoors for another set. Djokovic referenced previous situations at Wimbledon where matches had remained uncovered later in the evening and asked officials for more consistency in their approach.

“The other day you didn’t want to close it until 8:30. Now you want to close it. You don’t want to get to 8:30? It’s 7:40 now. We can play a whole another set outdoors. We’re an outdoor tournament,” Djokovic told the supervisor.

Djokovic challenges Wimbledon’s consistency over roof decision

The discussion continued as Djokovic questioned whether Wimbledon was applying its roof policy consistently throughout the tournament. The Serbian referred to his previous match at SW19, claiming that officials had allowed play to continue outdoors until much later despite similar conditions.

During the exchange, the supervisor appeared to mention Jannik Sinner’s match, but Djokovic quickly clarified that his complaint was focused solely on his own quarter-final against Auger-Aliassime. “With Jannik, I don’t care what happens in his matches. I’m talking about our match right now,” Djokovic responded.

Novak Djokovic at Centre Court during his third round match at Wimbledon.

Djokovic then returned to the issue of consistency, explaining that he did not understand why the roof was being closed earlier in this match compared to previous days.

The former world No. 1 argued that Wimbledon needed clearer criteria when making decisions that could impact the conditions of a match. “You remember the first round, you didn’t close it til like 8:20. Now you want to close it at 7:40. Where’s the consistency?”

The Serbian continued his criticism by questioning whether tournament officials were following their own guidelines when deciding when to close Centre Court’s roof. “You’re so proud of your rules and you’re not sticking to any kind of rules. You have no idea what the rule is.”

Felix Auger-Aliassime also wanted the roof to remain open

Auger-Aliassime also appeared to support Djokovic’s position, with the Canadian reportedly expressing his preference to continue playing outdoors. Both players had competed through the opening two sets without the roof and were looking to maintain the same conditions as the match entered a decisive stage.

The timing of the decision added further tension because the quarter-final was finely poised. Djokovic was aiming to continue his pursuit of an eighth Wimbledon title and a record-extending 25th Grand Slam trophy, while Auger-Aliassime was seeking one of the biggest victories of his career.

The roof was eventually closed, meaning the remainder of the match would continue under indoor conditions. The interruption created an unusual moment during a high-profile Wimbledon quarter-final, with Djokovic openly challenging one of the tournament’s decisions.

Novak Djokovic not happy with a tournament supervisor as they just announced they will be closing the roof at 7:40 during his match with Aliassime at Wimbledon

“The other day you didn’t want to close it until 8:30. Now you want to close it. You don’t want to get to 8:30? It’s… pic.twitter.com/i9SLK39eqX
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 7, 2026

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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