"It seems like a basic thing to change": Murray had 'multiple conversations' about changing Wimbledon start time amid scheduling controversy

Shortly before his debut at the US Open, Andy Murray recalled his defeat at Wimbledon against Stefanos Tsitsipas when the match was suspended overnight due to curfew restrictions.

The 2012 US Open champion joined the chorus of complaints from ATP and WTA players regarding match scheduling. Murray himself faced issues in his last Wimbledon appearance when his match was suspended while he was leading, due to the curfew.

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When the match resumed the following day, Tsitsipas made a comeback and eventually won the second-round match 6-7(3), 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-7(3), 4-6. Murray expressed his concerns about the late start of the day's play on the center court, which began at 13:30 hours:

“It seems like a basic thing to change. Just go back to the 1pm start or even 12.30pm. But it’s a financial reason they are doing it for, so it won’t change,” Murray claimed.

“I had multiple conversations before the start of the tournament and asked not to play the third match every single day because that’s what is going to happen with the 1.30 start and the breaks in between the matches.

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“The roof, in my opinion, was there for when it rains so that there are always matches that can go on for the fans and for TV, and it’s great. [But] it feels like it’s getting used now for darkness to play matches later in the evening.

“When you get that third slot, you have no way of practising on an indoor grass court. It’s not possible. I skipped the French Open to prepare to play my best tennis at Wimbledon but then you’re playing every match under different conditions than what you’re preparing for.

“You play an indoor match, the next day you are outside practising, then you come out to play again and it’s indoors and then we got stopped for time. The following day you are playing outdoors. It’s not a major thing but anyone that plays tennis knows playing indoors and outdoors is not the same. It’s a very different feeling.”

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So far, only Wimbledon has implemented a curfew, but in any tournament, especially Grand Slams, the nighttime schedules can affect the players:

“Often when the players complain about that stuff, you hear, ‘Oh, shut up and get on with it. Try working in a warehouse from nine to five.’

“I do get that. I know I’m fortunate to be playing tennis. It’s just that tennis is also partly entertainment. I don’t think it helps the sport much when you’re playing at 4am.

“Everyone’s leaving because they have to go and get public transport home and you finish a match like that in front of 10 per cent of the crowd. You don’t see it in other sports so it’s clearly wrong,” he concluded.

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