The Wimbledon mixed doubles final, originally set for Thursday, has been rescheduled to Sunday, tournament organizers announced on Tuesday. The decision comes as continuous rain has disrupted the schedule, causing a backlog on the All England Club’s outside courts.
While play has proceeded under the roofs on Centre Court and Court One, numerous first-round mixed doubles matches remain unfinished due to wet weather over the first eight days of the grasscourt Grand Slam.
The mixed doubles final will now follow the men’s singles final on Sunday. The men’s and women’s doubles finals will take place after the women’s singles final on Saturday.
“This gives us the maximum flexibility to complete the Championships on time and to play all of the respective finals on Centre Court,” explained tournament director Jamie Baker.
The inclement weather has also affected attendance, with visitor numbers in the first week dropping from 293,681 last year to 282,955, a decrease of 3.7%. Chief executive Sally Bolton attributed the dip to the adverse weather conditions.
“The weather has been so terrible that perseverance in the queue has been even greater this year than it ordinarily is,” Bolton remarked. “We’re never about maximizing our attendances; we’re all about protecting the queue and ensuring accessibility. This year’s variable and sometimes severe weather has almost certainly impacted our attendance.”
