Wimbledon make change to start time of both women's and men's finals at SW19
Wimbledon has confirmed a change to the order of play for the final weekend of the tournament, with the women's and men's finals set to be held in reverse order
Jannik Sinner is aiming for his first Wimbledon title on Sunday
(Image: HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images )
Wimbledon is set to revolutionise its final weekend schedule, deviating from tradition by reversing the starting times for the men and women's final.
Usually, the women's and men's showpiece matches start at 2pm on Saturday and Sunday respectively. In the normal running order, Saturday's action has traditionally seen the women's final followed by the men's doubles showdown, and Sunday played host to the men's single final before concluding with the women's doubles final.
However, Wimbledon has flipped this for 2025, with the tournament also currently in the grip of a heatwave. American broadcasters have shown particular enthusiasm for the change, aiming to better accommodate North American audiences, as the event has been a beacon for controversy this year.
Consequently, the upcoming schedule for Saturday, July 12, will see the men's doubles final commence at 1pm on Centre Court, with the women's singles final slated for 4pm.
On Sunday, July 13, the women's doubles final will start at 1pm, leading up to the men's singles final at 4pm. This adjustment means that tennis fans in New York and across the eastern US can tune into the main event finals at 11am EST, reports MyLondon.
Iga Swiatek cruised into Saturday's final
(Image: Getty )
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Sally Bolton, Chief Executive of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club said: "We have adjusted the provisional schedule for the final weekend of The Championships with the ambition of improving the experience for all involved.
"The doubles players competing in the finals will have increased certainty over their schedule and fans will enjoy each day's play as it builds towards the crescendo of the ladies' and gentlemen's singles finals, with our champions being crowned in front of the largest possible worldwide audience."
The women's final will see US Star Amanda Anisimova take on five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek, who is chasing her inaugural Wimbledon title. The 23-year-old Anisimova is also taking on a first, with her place in the All England Club final representing her debut appearance in a major final.
Sunday's final will feature the two current best players of the men's circuit, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, clashing for the first time since their memorable showdown at the French Open final in June. Spanish star Alcaraz, 22, is eyeing his sixth Grand Slam and third consecutive Wimbledon title after triumphing over Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will meet in the Wimbledon final on Sunday
(Image: Getty Images )
Italian star Sinner enters the final after a mixed year. After he clinched victory at the Australian Open in January he faced a three-month doping suspension, along with the heart-wrenching loss to Alcaraz at Roland Garros, despite holding three Championship points at one stage in the match.
Should Sinner, 23, win his first title at SW19 it would represent his fourth major. He fought off a strong challenge from Novak Djokovic in the semi-final to set up the final with Alcaraz, with the Serbian icon falling short of his quest to land what would've been a record-setting 25th Grand Slam title.
This year's Wimbledon has not been without its share of controversy, centring on the replacement of human line judges with an AI system – a notable change in the competition's 147-year history. The change means that around 300 officials who would typically be involved in matches are no longer required, with the tech now determining the ball's position.
On the new system, Bolton said: "Having reviewed the results of the testing undertaken at The Championships this year, we consider the technology to be sufficiently robust and the time is right to take this important step in seeking maximum accuracy in our officiating,".
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With this move, Wimbledon has now mirrored precedents set by both the Australian Open and US Open, which have already embraced such technology, alongside all ATP Tour events that have implemented the tech. However, the change has sparked mixed reactions, with some mourning the loss of a long-standing tradition at the prestigious tournament.
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