…By Lola Smith for TDPel Media.
The fourth-round match at Wimbledon commenced with a little over two hours left until the curfew.
After completing two sets, the match had to be halted and was eventually resumed on Monday afternoon.
This incident, along with a previous match involving Andy Murray, prompted questions regarding the curfew at Wimbledon, including its timing and purpose.
What time is the Wimbledon curfew?
The curfew at Wimbledon is set at 11pm, and matches are temporarily halted shortly before reaching this time.
This regulation ensures that the tournament adheres to the curfew requirements.
Why is there a curfew at Wimbledon?
The implementation of the curfew at Wimbledon is primarily driven by consideration for local residents.
The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, in a statement made in 2018, explained that the curfew serves as a Planning Condition to balance the needs of the residents with the scale of the international tennis event, which takes place in a residential area.
Additionally, the curfew takes into account the challenge of transportation and ensuring the safe return of visitors.
It was initially introduced in 2009 with the opening of the Centre Court roof.
Wimbledon’s Curfew Exceptions and Past Incident:
In 2012, the curfew at Wimbledon was unintentionally broken during a match between Andy Murray and Marcos Baghdatis.
The match concluded at 11.02pm, just two minutes past the specified curfew time.
However, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club did not face any penalties for this breach.
Merton Council’s leader, Stephen Alambritis, acknowledged the situation and commended the use of flexibility and commonsense in handling the matter.
He emphasized that the pre-arrangements regarding the curfew were designed to be applied with discretion, considering the well-being of both the residents and the tennis tournament.
Conclusion:
The curfew at Wimbledon, set at 11pm, plays a vital role in respecting the needs of local residents and balancing them with the demands of an international tennis event.
The curfew was introduced in 2009 when the Centre Court roof was inaugurated, and it addresses concerns related to transportation and the safety of visitors.
Although the curfew was unintentionally breached in 2012, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club faced no penalties due to the application of flexibility and commonsense by the authorities involved.
The curfew regulations aim to ensure a harmonious coexistence between the Wimbledon tournament and the surrounding community.
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