The All England Club has broken with tradition in recent years
Wimbledon will conclude this weekend with the men’s and women’s finals(Image: Cameron Spencer, Getty Images)
Why the start time for the Wimbledon final has been pushed back by two hours:
Shaking up the order: Tournament organisers have officially announced a change to the start times of both the women’s and men’s singles finals, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Rather than retaining the traditional 2pm slot, the championship matches will now get underway at 4pm on both days following the adjustment first introduced last year.New time: This considerable scheduling shift has a direct knock-on effect for the doubles finals, which will now be held prior to the singles matches. Both the men’s and women’s doubles championships are now set to begin at 1pm, rather than being squeezed in awkwardly after the singles trophy ceremonies.What those at Wimbledon have said: All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton has publicly outlined the reasoning behind these sweeping scheduling changes. She made clear that the committee’s principal objective is to substantially enhance the overall experience for all those involved in the prestigious tournament.More eyes on the court: One of the key driving forces behind the change is the tournament’s ambition to attract the broadest possible global audience. By deliberately shifting the headline matches to 4pm, organisers are hoping to engage significantly more fans across a range of international time zones.Previously: The old tournament schedule frequently left doubles players in an exasperating state of uncertainty as they waited for lengthy singles matches to conclude. Moving the doubles finals to a 1pm start offers those competitors considerably greater clarity and a far more reliable indication of when they will actually take to the court.Viewership: A significant domestic television element is also behind the decision, particularly following a notable drop in BBC viewing figures during the 2024 tournament. The 2024 women’s final, for example, drew approximately 400,000 fewer viewers at its peak than the year prior, prompting broadcasters to push firmly for a more favourable time slot.More time: The later start for the singles finals is likewise designed to enrich the experience for the thousands of spectators attending in person. It affords those in the crowd considerably more opportunity to explore the grounds and soak up the atmosphere before settling in for the showpiece matches.Time zone issue solved: The scheduling change is seen as especially advantageous for devoted tennis fans across the United States who wish to watch the finals as they happen. A 4pm start in London corresponds to a far more accessible 11am Eastern Time, a shift that should give international broadcast figures a meaningful boost.Fading light concerns: Nevertheless, commencing the singles matches at 4pm presents legitimate worries about potential interruptions from diminishing evening light. Should a best-of-five men’s final develop into an unexpectedly lengthy encounter, there is a considerably greater chance that proceedings will need to conclude beneath the Centre Court roof with artificial lighting switched on.Read more: Wimbledon semi-final halted and announcement made as umpire addresses crowd.
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