Wimbledon, the crown jewel of professional tennis and the sport’s oldest and most revered tournament, has long stood as a bastion of tradition. Since 1877, its grass courts have defined elegance and speed, delivering iconic moments year after year. But as history readies to be written again, the All England Club is shaking things up. In a rare departure from custom, Wimbledon has broken tradition ahead of today’s final showdown between Polish powerhouse Iga Swiatek and American sensation Amanda Anisimova in their first tour meeting, and excitement is sky-high. Curious about the new rules and changes? So are we, let’s dive in.
For over a century, Wimbledon has worn its traditions like a crown, white dress codes, strawberries and cream, and Centre Court finales that began at 2 pm sharp (BST). But in 2025, the script has changed. This year, the All England Club has flipped the schedule for finals weekend in a move aimed at reeling in the biggest global audience. On Saturday, Centre Court action now starts at 1 pm with the men’s doubles final, before the women’s singles final takes the stage at 4 pm. Sunday follows suit: the women’s doubles kicks off at 1 pm, with the men’s singles final sliding to 4 pm.
Why the shake-up? According to All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton, it’s a deliberate decision to maximise reach and modernise the experience. “We have adjusted the provisional schedule for the final weekend of The Championships with the ambition of improving the experience for all involved,” Bolton said. The shift aligns the singles finals with prime-time US television, an 11 am EST slot that hits the sweet spot for American viewers.
It’s also a nod to the doubles players, long pushed to the shadows after marquee singles matches. With the new schedule, doubles competitors now enjoy clarity and prominence. “The doubles players competing in the finals will have increased certainty over their schedule,” Bolton noted. “Fans will enjoy each day’s play as it builds toward the crescendo of the ladies’ and gentlemen’s singles finals.”
9th July 2023 All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England: Wimbledon Tennis Tournament A member of the armed forces stands in front of the Wimbledon logo PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK ActionPlus12529270 ShaunxBrooks
That crescendo couldn’t come sooner. The shift comes after dwindling TV numbers for the 2024 finals. Barbora Krejcikova’s win over Jasmine Paolini, for instance, drew 400,000 fewer viewers than the 2023 showdown. Likewise, while Carlos Alcaraz defended his title against Djokovic last year, it was the previous year’s five-set epic that attracted 3.8 million more eyes.
As Centre Court prepares for a reimagined Finals Weekend, the new timing may rattle tradition, but it beats with a bold rhythm. And now, as the finalists gear up, the stage is set.
The lights are brighter, the eyes of the world are wider, and the question lingers: who will rise with the morning sun and own the moment among the WTA duo?
Former American ace backs Anisimova to win the glory at Wimbledon
Under the glittering pressure of Centre Court, Amanda Anisimova is being prepped for the biggest match of her life, and the strategy is crystal clear. On the latest episode of Tennis Channel’s “Wimbledon Primetime”, three-time Grand Slam champion Lindsay Davenport cracked open the tactical vault ahead of the 2025 Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles Final.
As the American prepares to lock horns with Iga Swiatek, Davenport laid down the blueprint for an upset. “What does Iga struggle with?” she asked. “Iga struggles with players that come at her with heavy power that’s able to push her back, and that’s able to rush Iga. That’s exactly what Anisimova has to do, and she’s got to do it off the serve.”
Davenport’s breakdown wasn’t just surface-level; it was a deep dive into Anisimova’s biggest weapon. Her serve, long a work-in-progress, now must turn into a full-blown cannon. “It’s got to be working for her in her biggest match,” Davenport asserted. The keys? Precision, unpredictability, and free points. “She’s got to be able to mix up her locations and, more importantly, get free points in her service game to relax her.”
But the story doesn’t end at the line. In the rally trenches, Anisimova’s backhand remains her sharpest blade. “She’s been hitting a lot of backhands cross. It’s been working well.”
Meanwhile, Andy Roddick, the former US Open champion and voice of American tennis grit, weighed in on Anisimova’s evolution on his “Served” podcast. The growth he sees isn’t just technical, it’s spiritual. “The biggest thing for me was four or five years ago, maybe when Anisimova didn’t enjoy the game as much,” he said. “I do not remember these hustle situations, these one more ball situations, mixing it up.”
Roddick credited her return to the game, and more importantly, her return to herself, as the catalyst. “It just didn’t seem like she was enjoying the fight out there,” he explained. “I don’t know if that self corrects if she did not step away and get perspective and choose the game of tennis again.” That choice, he believes, is everything. “This is the second version of her tennis life,” Roddick concluded. “And it shows when she plays. Credit to her, it was absolutely amazing.”
Now, with Centre Court looming and the Venus Rosewater Dish gleaming in the distance, the question remains: will this be the day Amanda Anisimova writes her Wimbledon fairytale? Stay tuned.
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