As the tennis-loving populace eagerly awaits the reprise of the red-hot rivalry between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the All England Club's Centre Court, there is one aspect that has left the traditionalists curious. The Wimbledon gentlemen's singles final will be played at 4pm local time (8:30pm IST), instead of the usual 2pm (6:30pm IST). What has prompted this two-hour delay?
Jannik Sinner Vs Carlos Alcaraz: Why Is Wimbledon 2025 Final Being Played Two Hours Later? Explained
In addition to the gentlemen's singles final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the ladies singles title clash between Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova was also played two hours before usual at Wimbledon 2025. Here's the reason behind it
In fact, not just the men's singles final, but also the ladies title clash between Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova, which the former world number one won by a record 6-0, 6-0 margin, was played two hours before usual. The reasoning behind this move is to maximize viewer eyeballs, as the timing might be more amenable to global TV audiences.
In India, 8:30pm would fall under primetime viewing, evidenced by the timing of majority of Indian Premier League matches (7:30pm). It also translates to somewhat more friendly timings for the United States, which of course has a massive tennis viewing base.
What All England Club CEO Said
The idea is to attract the “largest possible worldwide audience”, as per All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton. “The aim is to enhance the experience for everyone involved. Doubles players will have a clearer sense of their match times, fans will have more time to enjoy their day at Wimbledon before the marquee matches begin, and the champions will be crowned in front of the largest possible audience,” she added.
Bolton added that given the cramped international sports calendar, Wimbledon will reconsider the timing of its finals on a year-by-year basis to continue delivering the best experience for spectators and home viewers alike.
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