The All England Lawn Tennis Club announced Tuesday that it is finally breaking with tradition: On the 100-year anniversary of Centre Court in 2022, balls will bounce on the hallowed lawns on Middle Sunday. The customary day off on the first Sunday of the fortnight will cease to exist after this year's Wimbledon.
More news was revealed about plans for 2021 with organisers intending to allow 25 per cent capacity, in accordance with current Sports Grounds Safety Authority guidance. “We very much hope 25 per cent is a minimum position from which we can build — it is our absolute desire to enable as many people as possible to safely attend The Championships this year,” said Chief Executive Sally Bolton.
Starting in 2022, the AELTC will make play on the first Sunday of the fortnight as synonymous with The Championships as wearing all-white. The permanent change turns the grass-court Grand Slam into a 14-day event. The US Open and Australian Open play on two Sundays while Roland Garros hosts action on three.
Normally, matches at Wimbledon are only held on Middle Sunday when rain during the first week forces organisers to play catch up. The last time that happened was in 2016, marking just the fourth time in history balls touched the lawns on two Sundays in a fortnight (the other years were 1991, 1997 and 2004).
“Thanks to improved grass-court technology and maintenance over the past five years or so and other measures, we are comfortable that we are able to look after the courts, most particularly Centre Court, without a full day of rest,” said Chairman Ian Hewitt.
The change will benefit the tournament scheduling by spreading out the Round of 16 matches across two days instead of having a crowded Manic Monday and improve audience diversity by giving greater opportunities for the local community to attend.
This year Wimbledon will be held June 28-July 11 with the qualifying event taking place June 21-24. With Roland Garros pushing back its start date, there will be only two weeks between the clay-court Grand Slam and Wimbledon.
Also new to Wimbledon in 2021:
- Organisers have created a minimized risk environment for players and their teams, officials, and player-facing staff which includes everyone staying in the official hotel and using official transportation.
- There will be no queue or Invitational doubles event, and the grounds will be cashless.
- Ticket sale dates have not been announced yet but will be available to the public online and delivered via the Wimbledon mobile app. (Tickets will be available for Centre, No.1, No.2 and No.3 Courts, Courts 12 and 18, and Grounds Passes.)
- The serve clock will come into play during both the main draw and qualifying.
- The pre-match warm-up routine will be one minute after walking on the court, four minutes of warm-up and one minute to start the match.
- With environmental impact in mind, strawberries and cream will be served in new sustainably sourced containers and there will be reusable cups for cold drinks.
- Ticket holders will have free access to the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, where a new portrait of Andy Murray will be on display (painted by Maggi Hambling CBE and on loan from the National Portrait Gallery). The museum will reveal a new exhibit dedicated to the 100-year anniversary of Centre Court, which will be celebrated in 2022.
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