Djokovic requests that the Centre Court schedule be moved up.

After needing two days to defeat Hubert Hurkacz in the fourth round, defending champion Novak Djokovic said on Monday that Wimbledon should start matches earlier on Centre Court to prevent players from breaking the strict 11pm curfew.

 

When Djokovic, 36, took the court to face Hurkacz at around 8.30 p.m. on Sunday, he was up against the clock for the second straight match.

He nearly pulled it off against the Swiss player Stan Wawrinka on Friday in a similar time frame, but Hurkacz's stern defense and big serving from Poland limited the match to two sets, which Djokovic won on tiebreaks.

Djokovic duly completed a 7-6(6) 7-6(6) 5-7 6-4 victory on Monday to set up a clash with Russia's Andrey Rublev on Tuesday but was asked for his opinion on the scheduling which has come in for criticism with Centre Court play starting at 1.30pm.

"Obviously curfew is probably something that is much more difficult to change, I understand, because of the community and the residential area we are in," the Serb told reporters.

"I believe the matches could start at least at noon. It certainly would, in my opinion.

At the All England Club, play begins at 1 p.m. on Court One and at 11 a.m. on the outdoor courts. The late start on Centre Court is done in part to accommodate those who purchased hospitality tickets.

Andy Murray, a two-time champion for Great Britain, was upset when his match against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round was stopped on Thursday night just as he was ahead two sets to one. He was defeated in five sets on Friday after play resumed.
Djokovic claimed that the stress was increased by entering Centre Court without knowing if there was enough time to finish.

In what was his 100th match, Djokovic racked up a 32nd straight victory at Wimbledon. "Once it's part 8pm you know that there's a high probability you won't finish your match," he said.

The same could be said of Wawrinka and Hurkacz. Both games began shortly after nine o'clock.

"Around 1pm, I think, I warmed up for both of those games. Should you return to your lodging, the nearby house, or should you stay? I chose to remain yesterday. I waited for the start of my match for roughly seven hours.

In his 56th Grand Slam quarterfinal on Tuesday, Djokovic won't have to worry about curfews.

After Iga Swiatek's match against Elina Svitolina in the women's quarterfinal, his match with Rublev comes next.

He will face seventh-seeded Russian Rublev, who has reached the quarterfinals of eight Grand Slam tournaments but has never advanced further, as a huge favorite.

Djokovic praised Andrei Rublev, calling him "a fantastic player with one of the best forehands in the game."

"With his grunts, he brings a lot of intensity to the court. He kind of frightens his opponents away online. Very nice guy, indeed. Very nice individual.