Andy Murray fumes at Wimbledon bosses as he details failed schedule request before US Open
Andy Murray has revealed his burning anger with Wimbledon’s botched scheduling before he returns to Grand Slam action at the US Open on Tuesday. The three-time Major winner accused the All England Club – where he is a member – of compromising the integrity of the tournament for money.
The former world No.1 took a needed break from tennis after his heartbreaking defeat to Stefanos Tsitsipas in SW19 and is now in New York with the support of his young family.
But before facing Frenchman Corentin Moutet in the second match on Grandstand on Tuesday, the 2012 New York champion showed he was still furious over his five-set defeat to the world No.5 in his home Grand Slam.
Murray had requested not to play in his traditional prime time slot on BBC but still started under the Centre Court roof at 7.46pm. He was leading two sets to one when play was halted at 10.40pm before the 11pm curfew – and then returned to lose the next two sets in the sun the next day.
At Flushing Meadows, the two day matches in the main Arthur Ashe Stadium start at midday before a designated night session at 7pm. Wimbledon pretends it is a daytime, outdoor event but matches start on the showcourts 1.30pm and repeatedly need the roof after sundown. New TV deals in 2021 gave Wimbledon more money for delaying the start from 1pm to see finishes for the BBC, which pays £60m a year, and ESPN in the USA.
Murray, who skipped the French Open and played two Challenger events on grass to get ready for his home Grand Slam, said: “I had multiple conversations before the start of the tournament and asked not play the third match every single day because you know that’s what is going to happen with the 1.30 start and the breaks in between the matches.
“The roof in my opinion was there for when it rains so there are always matches that can go on for the fans and for TV and everything and it’s great. It feels like it’s getting used now for darkness to play matches later in the evening and when you get that third slot, you have no way of practising on an indoor grass court. It’s not possible.
