Why Wimbledon has decided to push the finals back by two hours

Wimbledon has introduced a notable change to its schedule: delaying the start times of the men’s and women’s singles finals. The London-based tournament has announced that both matches will begin at 4:00 p.m. local time (11:00 a.m. ET), which is two hours later than the traditional start.

The move raises the possibility that matches could be played under the roof if daylight becomes an issue. It was also confirmed that Wimbledon has no plans to expand into a 15-day event, unlike the Australian Open, Roland Garros, and the US Open.

Under the new schedule, the men’s doubles final—set for Saturday, July 12—will start at 1:00 p.m. local time (8:00 a.m. ET), followed by the women’s singles final at 4:00 p.m. (11:00 a.m. ET). On Sunday, July 13, the women’s doubles final will begin at 1:00 p.m. (8:00 a.m. ET), with the men’s singles final set for 4:00 p.m. (11:00 a.m. ET).

A better experience for everyone at Wimbledon

“The aim is to enhance the experience for everyone involved,” said Sally Bolton, Chief Executive of the All England Club. “Doubles players will have a clearer sense of their match times, fans will have more time to enjoy their day at Wimbledon before the marquee matches begin, and the champions will be crowned in front of the largest possible audience.”

Bolton added that due to the crowded international sports calendar, Wimbledon will evaluate the timing of its finals on a year-by-year basis to continue delivering the best experience for attendees.

And of course it’s great news for US tennis fans, who get the singles finals at a slightly better viewing time.