By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, July 10, 2023

Wimbledon—Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic reveres the tournament's traditions, but advocates two key changes for The Championships.

Djokovic, whose match against Hubert Hurkacz began last night before the Wimbledon curfew prompted the suspension of play, said it's time for the grass-court Grand Slam to make a time change.

More: Keys Overcomes Andreeva

The seven-time champion who hasn't lost a Centre Court match in a decade advocates Wimbledon move its Centre Court start time from its traditional 1:30 p.m. start to a noon start time to prevent late Centre Court matches from being carried over to the next day due to curfew.

"I agree with that," Djokovic replied when asked if it's time to alter the traditional schedule. "Obviously curfew is probably something that is much more difficult to change, I understand, because of the community and the residential area we are in.

"I think the matches could be pushed at least to start at 12. I think it would make a difference."

The US Open typically starts play at 11 a.m.



A noon Wimbledon start may well have enabled Djokovic to finish his four-set win over Hurkacz on Sunday rather than continue play over two days.

"It's tennis. That's the unpredictability of tennis in a way," Djokovic said of the schedule. "You have to be ready for both scenarios. When I saw the matches that were played before me yesterday with Rublev-Bublik, and Swiatek-Bencic, I thought those matches could be long matches. But you don't know that.

"You can only predict. It's never a guarantee. Yeah, it's tricky, especially if there is a lot of players and a lot of stuff, members of the respective players' teams, and they all occupy spaces for rest. It's not easy to find a corner where you can just be by yourself. That's okay. In the end of the day, it is what it is. You have to adapt. It's not the first, probably neither the last, time that I get to experience these type of particular circumstances."



The second switch Djokovic supports reverts back to a time-honored tradition. For years, Wimbledon did not allow extensive practice on Centre Court before The Championships.

That changed after several players fell on Centre Court and complained the grass was too slick. Last year, The Championships permitted a few players to practice on Centre Court before the tournament began to try to break in the grass and reduce the slick spots. 

Consequently, Djokovic says the grass wears out faster. Citing the "sensitive surface", Djokovic says no pre-tournament practice on Centre Court will preserve the lawn for the tournament.

"Wimbledon has been so attached, I would say connected, with its tradition and history in not changing certain things, which I respect a lot. I think they're wonderful things to keep with history, like the defending champion going out on the first day," Djokovic said. "Even though it was nice for us to get a chance in the last couple of years to practice on the Centre Court before the tournament starts, I have to say I'm not a fan of that. I would rather have no practice at all on the Centre Court before the tournament starts. I think that would help the court.

"It also is the most sensitive surface we have in the sport. So you can feel the grass wearing out even after few practice sessions already, getting the beating from the sliding and running and so forth."

Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport