Why is there no Middle Sunday or Manic Monday at Wimbledon 2022?

Wimbledon 2022 is a 14-day event, with the Championships set to continue through the fortnight’s “Middle Sunday”.

Previously, the Sunday had been kept free on the schedule to allow the grasscourts sufficient time to recover. All England Club chairman Ian Hewitt said: “Thanks to improved grasscourt 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.”

The Middle Sunday tradition at Wimbledon was not broken until 1991, but that year, the weather had been particularly bad.

Play at Wimbledon has only occurred on Middle Sunday four times in the event’s history: 1991, 1997, 2004 and 2016 as a knock-on effect of bad weather in the tournament’s opening week.

Manic Monday scrapped

The Monday after Middle Sunday is known as “Manic Monday”, which sees all 16 fourth-round players - both men’s and women’s - in action.

This year’s Wimbledon sees play taking place on the first Sunday of the championships with the traditional Manic Monday scrapped.

From 2022 onwards, to tie in with the centenary of the Centre Court, the 16 matches of Wimbledon’s fourth round will be spread across days seven and eight of the tournament.

“We want more of this wonderful event to be available to more people around the world to share in the joy of The Championships,” explains Sally Bolton, the All England Club’s chief executive.

“Including Middle Sunday permanently in our schedule will allow us to do just that and begin a new tradition which we hope we can become immensely proud of. It enables us to do more with the second Monday, which is known as ‘manic’ for good reason.”

Centre Court anniversary

The middle Sunday this year (3 July) will also see a celebration of Centre Court, with the 15,000-capacity arena marking its 100th anniversary.