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'Absolute joke': Tennis world explodes over Wimbledon 'disgrace'

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read
Danii Medvedev and Roger Federer, pictured here in action at Wimbledon.
Danii Medvedev's match was suspended rather than moved to Centre Court after Roger Federer's. Image: Getty

Wimbledon officials are copping it left, right and centre after Daniil Medvedev's fourth-round clash with Hubert Hurkacz was suspended on Monday due to rain.

Medvedev was up 6-2, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 3-4 on Monday when rain disrupted play on Court 2.

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Medvedev and Hurkacz will now have to come back on Tuesday to compete the match, with the winner forced to play their quarter-final on Wednesday.

That means the eventual winner will be forced to play three days in a row against a refreshed Roger Federer in the quarters.

Fans were already raging that the World No.2 was forced to play on the outside court without a roof, and they were left incensed when play was suspended on Monday.

Despite Centre Court (with a roof) being free after Federer's match and around two hours left before the 11pm curfew, officials decided not to move the Medvedev match in order to complete it.

Federer was asked about the decision in his post-match interview, calling it "unfair".

"It is not fair for anyone," he said.

"I have been in these situations before - but these guys are young and they can recover.

"Unfortunately they are very, very good too, so hopefully it rains again tomorrow... I'm kidding, I'm kidding!"

Fans were left seething on social media, with many labelling the decision not to move Medvedev's match indoors a "disgrace".

Some pointed out that Wimbledon officials have moved matches onto Centre Court in the past due to rain or bad light on outside courts.

Djokovic and Federer march into Wimbledon quarters

Novak Djokovic marched into his 50th grand slam quarter-final, while Federer became the oldest man in the modern era to make the last-eight at Wimbledon on 'Manic Monday' at the All England Club.

World No.1 Djokovic, chasing a sixth Wimbledon and record-equalling 20th major, eased into the last-eight for the 12th time with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win over Chile's Cristian Garin.

Federer, who will be 40 in just under five weeks' time, brushed aside Italy's Lorenzo Sonego 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 to make the quarter-finals at Wimbledon for the 18th time and 58th overall at the majors.

Djokovic will next face Hungary's Marton Fucsovics, one of a host of players booking last-eight spots at the tournament for the first time.

Roger Federer, pictured here after his win over Lorenzo Sonego at Wimbledon.
Roger Federer celebrates his win over Lorenzo Sonego at Wimbledon. (Photo by AELTC/Simon Bruty - Pool/Getty Images)

The list included women's top seed Ashleigh Barty, second seed Aryna Sabalenka, Karolina Pliskova, Viktorija Golubic as well as Matteo Berrettini, Denis Shapovalov, Karen Khachanov and Felix Auger-Aliassime in the men's draw.

Djokovic is halfway to a calendar Grand Slam.

Only two men have swept all four majors in the same year with Rod Laver the most recent back in 1969.

"Confidence levels are very high after winning the French Open," said Djokovic.

"It was one of my biggest wins in the circumstances - two five-setters, two four-setters in the second week.

"They took a lot out of me but they also gave me wings."

with agencies

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