Wimbledon is into its final weekend with Iga Swiatek taking on Amanda Anisimova in the women’s final and Carlos Alcaraz facing Jannik Sinner in the men’s, but the order of play for the two showpiece matches has been altered
Wimbledon has shaken things up by altering the longstanding start times for its finals. Traditionally, the women’s and men’s finals have started at 2pm on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
The usual schedule would see the women’s final followed by the men’s doubles final on Saturday, with the men’s final on Sunday followed by the women’s doubles final. However, in a groundbreaking change for 2025, this order will be reversed at Wimbledon, with the winners also set for a hefty pay packet.
US broadcasters have been particularly eager for the change in order to cater to North American viewers. 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.
Speaking on the changes, Sally Bolton, Chief Executive of the All England 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 face five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, who is gunning for her first Wimbledon title. The 23-year-old Anisimova is also taking on a first, with her place in the All England Club final representing her maiden appearance in a major final.
Sunday will then see the two titans of the men’s game, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, go head-to-head for the first time since their epic French Open final encounter in June. Spanish superstar Alcaraz is aiming for his sixth Grand Slam, and third Wimbledon title in a row, at just 22 years old, having beat Taylor Fritz in the semi-final.
Italian star Sinner is coming into the final off the back of a mixed 2025. A win in the Australian Open in January was offset by a three-month doping suspension and that defeat at Roland Garros to Alcaraz, despite having 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 been blighted by controversy surrounding the replacement of human line judges in favour of AI technology, marking a significant shift in the tournament’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.
Bolton said on the new system: “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,”.
Wimbledon is following in the footsteps of the Australian Open and US Open, both of which already utilise this technology, as well as all ATP Tour events that have adopted the system. However, the change has sparked mixed reactions, with some mourning the loss of a long-standing tradition at the prestigious tournament.
