**Wimbledon Final Weekend Schedule Overhauled as Organisers Aim to Boost Global Engagement**
Wimbledon’s prestigious final weekend is set for a significant reshuffle in 2025 as the All England Club announces a reversal of its traditional match order. Both the women’s and men’s finals are poised for new time slots, prompting widespread discussion among tennis enthusiasts, players, and broadcasters alike.
Historically, the Wimbledon finals have adhered to a longstanding routine: the women’s singles final would grace Centre Court on Saturday at 2pm, followed by the men’s doubles; while the men’s singles showpiece would follow at the same time on Sunday, rounded off by the women’s doubles. However, tournament chiefs have opted for change, citing multiple factors including increased international viewership and logistical benefits for players.
Under the revised schedule, Saturday 12 July will now commence with the men’s doubles final at 1pm, setting the stage for the women’s singles final, which will not begin until 4pm. Sunday’s programme mirrors this structure, seeing the women’s doubles finalists in action from 1pm, before the men’s singles final takes over the spotlight at 4pm. This alteration is particularly significant for audiences across the Atlantic, with American broadcasters reportedly backing the decision in order to attract greater US viewership, where the new timings mean finals will air from 11am Eastern Standard Time.
Sally Bolton, Chief Executive of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, framed the changes as a conscious effort to enhance the championship experience. “We have adjusted the provisional schedule for the final weekend with the ambition of improving the experience for all involved,” Bolton stated. She emphasised that the updated order offers players more certainty about their schedule and builds anticipation throughout each day, culminating with the crowning of the singles champions before the largest possible worldwide audience.
The finals themselves promise a compelling weekend of tennis. The women’s singles will see US player Amanda Anisimova face off against five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek, who is seeking her first triumph at Wimbledon. While Swiatek boasts an impressive record on other surfaces, Anisimova’s appearance marks her inaugural Grand Slam final—a momentous occasion for the 23-year-old American.
Sunday’s centrepiece—the men’s singles final—will feature Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz and Italian star Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz, 22, finds himself on the brink of a third consecutive Wimbledon title and a sixth Grand Slam overall, fresh from a semi-final victory over American Taylor Fritz. Sinner, following a tumultuous season marked by winning the Australian Open and enduring a doping suspension, bounced back to book his place in the SW19 final after overcoming Novak Djokovic in a gripping semi-final battle. For Sinner, success on Sunday would signal his first Wimbledon title and cap a rollercoaster year on tour.
This year’s tournament has also seen the introduction of a pioneering officiating change. For the first time in its 147-year history, Wimbledon replaced all human line judges on major courts with a fully automated AI system, drawing mixed reactions from traditionalists and technology advocates. The move brings SW19 in line with the Australian and US Opens, as well as ATP Tour events that have already embraced similar systems, with the aim of improving accuracy and consistency in officiating.
Bolton defended the adoption of the new technology, citing thorough testing and a desire for maximum accuracy. “Having reviewed the results of the testing undertaken at The Championships this year, we consider the technology to be sufficiently robust and the time is right to take this important step,” she said.
While the decision has been broadly praised in technological circles, it has not come without criticism. Many long-serving fans, and some current and former players, have expressed nostalgia over the loss of human line judges, a fixture woven into the fabric of Wimbledon for generations. The debate encapsulates the broader balancing act facing sporting bodies: how to maintain tradition while embracing change that reflects growing global audiences and the demand for fair, transparent officiating.
With an intense heatwave gripping London, and all eyes on the revised order of play, this year’s Wimbledon finals weekend already looks set to be a memorable and, in many ways, historic occasion—both on and off the court. The changes, both in schedule and technology, signal Wimbledon’s ongoing evolution as it seeks to deliver electrifying tennis to fans worldwide while navigating the inevitable crossroads of legacy and innovation.