'Annoyed' players fume, crowd boos as Wimbledon thriller postponed due to curfew
Taylor Fritz's match against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in Wimbledon's first round was suspended after four sets in case they wouldn't be able to finish before the tournament's 11pm (local time) curfew.
They'll resume on Tuesday night. Mpetshi Perricard took the initial two sets 7-6(6), 7-6(8), before Fritz grabbed the next two 6-4, 7-6(6).
Playing with the No.1 Court retractable roof closed and artificial lights on, Perricard was two points from winning while leading 5-2 in the fourth-set tiebreaker, but never got closer.
READ MORE: Big names beaten in horror day for Aussies at Wimbledon
READ MORE: Fittler explains why he turned down Kangaroos job
READ MORE: 'Rattled' star late to Blues camp after 'really stupid' error
From 6-all, 2024 US Open runner-up Fritz took the next two points to force a fifth set and pounded his right fist on his chest, yelling, “Let's f---ing go! Come on!” It was about 10.15pm, and the players met up at the net with an official to discuss whether or not to continue.
Eventually, the chair umpire announced to the crowd: “Ladies and gentlemen, due to the late time of the day, we will not be able to finish the match. Therefore the match will be suspended until tomorrow. Play is suspended.”
Taylor Fritz and the Frenchman speak to the match official. Stan
That sparked boos from the crowd, especially since the players and the official chewed up several minutes addressing issue when they could have been playing, with about 45 minutes left of court time.
Fritz could be seen saying "then don't ask me" after the decision was made, seemingly frustrated by the call after he surged back into contention. He looked toward his box with his palms up and said: “I couldn't do anything. I tried."
Watch all the action from Wimbledon 2025 live & on-demand on Stan Sport, with two courts in 4K UHD. Coverage of select matches free-to-air on Nine and streaming on 9Now
The call to push the match back a day also baffled those in commentary.
"I'm a little surprised by that decision," Todd Woodbridge said on Stan's coverage.
"The referee has come out too early. They could have given them the option. We still had 45 minutes before curfew. All the sets that we've had have taken under 45 minutes.
Fritz walks off when he hears the match will be postponed. Stan
"They were close to it but there was definitely a chance of an outcome there tonight. It's good for Mpetshi Perricard. He should be very happy with that but Taylor Fritz would be a little annoyed I have no doubt."
In a match between two of the tour's top servers, Mpetshi Perricard hit 33 aces before play was stopped, and Fritz hit 24.
Mpetshi Perricard broke Taylor Dent's longstanding record for the fastest serve at the All England Club, with blistering serve of over 246km/h. Dent's record of 238km/h had reigned since 2010.
Taylor Fritz surged back into contention to take the fourth. Stan
Mpetshi Perricard never earned a break point during the four sets contested; Fritz had five chances and converted one.
Fritz, a 27-year-old Californian, was a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon in 2022, losing to Rafael Nadal, and again a year ago, losing to Lorenzo Musetti.
Mpetshi Perricard, a 21-year-old Frenchman, reached the fourth round at the All England Club last year, also eliminated by Musetti.
Fritz boos along with the crowd. Getty
Over at Centre Court, day one's last match also was halted, with No.3 Alexander Zverev, a three-time major finalist, even at a set apiece against Arthur Rinderknech when they stopped at 10.54pm local time.
There were no breaks of serve in either of the two sets they played. Rinderknech took the first 7-6(3), and Zverev the second by a 7-6(8) score.
