According to Katie Boulter’s friends, if she had been allocated one of the tournament’s exhibition courts, her Wimbledon dream would have had a different outcome.
The British number 3 was dealt a surprise snub when she was moved from the Centre Court to Court 2 for her match against France’s Harmony Tan after being eliminated from the competition yesterday in the third round.
Meanwhile, Miss Boulter’s side claims that Coco Gauff should have been given the slot Miss Boulter played in at 1.30 p.m. on Centre Court against fellow American Amanda Anisimova.
One of her friends commented, “If she had played a little later than 11am and on one of the show courts, things definitely may have been different.” Wimbledon typically does a fantastic job of reading the room, but not this time.
“It seems quite odd that a British prospect who truly captured the nation’s attention was positioned in such a graveyard slot,” one observer observed.
The 25-year-old, who lost 6-1, 6-1, appeared furious after the match, hastily gathered her luggage, and she left the court without saying goodbye to the crowd.
She was also nowhere to be found yesterday afternoon on Court 1 as Australian boyfriend Alex de Minaur, with whom she recently moved in, defeated British hopeful Liam Broady.
Later, Miss Boulter said she regretted not having played on a larger court, adding, “Ultimately, I’m a tennis player.
I honestly have no idea where I’ll be working. Just respond to what I’m given, that’s all.
Playing on these courts, let alone the largest ones, is a privilege. However, it is wonderful to be back among your family and friends.
“I would always prefer to compete in the largest arena that is physically possible.” Sadly, it wasn’t the case today.
Miss Tan acknowledged that the relief she felt from not having to play her adversary on Centre Court.
In a post-match interview, she stated: “I think there are a lot of people for her when you play a Brit on Centre Court. I enjoy playing on a tiny court. I enjoy playing in the opening game as well, as I don’t have to wait all day.
The allegations were made when Miss Boulter’s supporters vented their rage over Miss Gauff receiving a prime slot and court, with some claiming Wimbledon is in Miss Gauff’s favor.
The 18-year-game, old’s which began yesterday at 1:30 PM, would have been shown at 8.30 AM on the East Coast of the United States.
It’s incredibly frustrating to see Katie Boulter on Court 2 and Wimbledon’s preoccupation with Coco Gauff on Centre Court, one fan commented. It just doesn’t feel right.
Tennis insiders claim that Miss Gauff is viewed by event organizers as a future star in the same vein as the Williams sisters.
Yesterday, a Wimbledon official defended the tournament’s scheduling, noting that a number of variables are taken into account, including requests from international broadcast partners.
It is well known that US networks want to have their stars on when the country is awake.
According to a spokeswoman, scheduling at The Championships is a complicated process that takes many variables into account.
Match-ups involving previous Champions and top seeds, demands from international broadcast partners, and consideration for players who are competing in multiple events were all taken into account when determining the schedule for tomorrow.