Wimbledon: Kerber 'really surprised' about scheduling at All England Club

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Making a statement: Angelique Kerber.

    Top seed Angelique Kerber admits she was “really surprised” to be scheduled on Court No. 2 for her marquee fourth round against Garbine Muguruza, as the issue of gender inequality in scheduling at Wimbledon once again came to the fore on Monday.

    Kerber and Muguruza, both former Wimbledon finalists, produced a remarkable high-quality affair that was not scheduled on one of the two main courts at the All England Club – Centre Court and Court No. 1.

    The tournament has been scheduling two men’s matches and one women’s on Centre Court every day of the event so far, and has followed the same format for Court No 1 on five of the seven days of play.

    It is a recurring issue at Wimbledon and Kerber suggested she might even talk to organisers about it.

    “To be honest, I was really surprised that I was playing on Court No. 2, yes. But, yeah, I mean, the schedule was out then. Yeah, what can I do? I was going out, trying to play good match on Court No. 2. I played a lot of matches there,” said Kerber, who lost 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a two-hour, 20-minute tussle with Muguruza on Monday.

    “Yeah, still it was a good feeling to be playing on this court, as well.”

    ‘Manic Monday’, which is the second Monday at Wimbledon and features all fourth round matches from the men’s and women’s draws, tends to provide a scheduling headache for organisers, but the theme of placing twice as many men’s matches than women’s on Centre Court has been consistent all tournament.

    “I think we played good match. I think it was a good match from both of us, on a high level. Yeah, I was actually looking forward to playing on one of the two big courts,” said Kerber of her clash with 2015 runner-up Muguruza.

    Kerber was asked if it’s important to speak up about such an issue, that is inevitably hurtful to the women’s game, preventing it from showcasing it’s best product on the show courts. The German two-time major champion said: “Yeah, I mean, I think we will see. Maybe I will talk to them, as well.

    “I think it’s, like I said, not my decision. I don’t know, they discussing the schedule before the matches, and I know it’s always not so easy. There are a lot of good players right now, they are playing on Monday. I respect everybody.

    “Of course I was surprised. This is what I can tell you. But at the end, yeah, it’s not at the end my decision, you know.”

    Reigning French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko was exiled to Court No. 12 while playing against the No4 seed Elina Svitolina. Ostapenko has so far been scheduled on Court No. 12 twice, Court No. 18 once, and Court. No. 2 once.

    The 20-year-old Ostapenko voiced her opinion on the matter, saying: “I think I deserve to play on a better court than Court 12, I guess.

    “I mean, yes (I was surprised). Also, Elina is No4 in the world. I think our match was a very interesting match for the people to watch. They put us on Court 12. Is still good. I mean, has the Hawk-Eye. But I thought we would play on a bigger court.”

    She next faces five-time champion Venus Williams in the quarter-finals and will probably be placed on one of the big courts for the first time this tournament.

    Richard Lewis, the All England Club chief executive, dismissed there’s been any bias against the women.

    “I wouldn’t say it’s favouritism. I would say it’s taking the marquee matches,” he told reporters on Monday.

    “It’s not about male/female, in the end it’s about which matches you feel the public and broadcasters most of all want to see.”

    Former world No1 Caroline Wozniacki admits this has been a continuous problem at Wimbledon and that it was more evident here compared to the other majors.

    “I think that’s something we’ve talked about at Wimbledon for the last 10 years. It’s been the same for 10 years straight. I think the other Grand Slams are more equal, positioning of men’s and women’s matches, whereas here there’s always two men’s and one women’s on Centre Court. Most days, as well, there’s more men’s matches on Court 1, too. It is what it is. I play wherever they put me basically,” said the Dane, following her fourth round exit to Coco Vandeweghe.

    Williams, who opened play on Centre Court on Monday, explains that ‘Manic Monday’ scheduling has always been tricky for organisers, but that “I’m sure that the women, we would want more matches on Centre or Court No. 1 over the whole fortnight.”

    Recommended