Novak Djokovic Faces Physical Challenge as Wimbledon Implements Curfew Rule

Novak Djokovic Fights Fatigue and the Curfew in Quest for Wimbledon Victory

Tennis: A Feat of Physical Strength

Tennis is renowned for its intensity, demanding players to constantly twist their bodies and exert tremendous physical strength. This is the challenge faced by Novak Djokovic, the 36-year-old Serbian tennis star, currently ranked number 2 in the world. As he seeks to secure his fifth consecutive victory in the Wimbledon men’s singles, Djokovic must overcome the grueling conditions of playing three consecutive days and reach the highly-anticipated semi-finals.

An Extraordinary Match That Spanned Two Days

During the round of 16 at Wimbledon, Djokovic faced off against Hubert Hurkaci from Poland. After a hard-fought battle that stretched the limits of both players, Djokovic emerged victorious with a 3-1 set score (7-6, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4). What sets this match apart is that it spanned a grueling “2 days and 1 night.”

Originally scheduled for the 9th, Djokovic and Hurkaci were assigned to the third Center Court match. However, due to the duration of earlier matches, their game was delayed. Finally, they took to the court around 8:30pm. Djokovic managed to secure a two-set lead in this closely contested showdown, but when the clock struck 11:00 pm, the match had to be halted. An unusual rule unique to Wimbledon states that no play is permitted after this time to minimize disruption to local residents.

Like all the players, Djokovic and Hurkaci had to pack up and leave the court. They returned on the 10th and resumed their match, with Djokovic eventually emerging as the winner.

The Price of Victory: Physical Demands and Fatigue

However, Djokovic’s triumph was bittersweet. As the oldest player among the quarter-finalists at 36 years old, he now faces the challenging task of playing the quarter-final match on the following day, the 11th. Typically, tennis players have a day of rest between matches to recover and regain stamina, but due to the strict tournament operating time limit, Djokovic is forced to play for three consecutive days. This constant physical exertion can take a toll on his body.

Reflecting on the challenges presented by the Wimbledon curfew, Djokovic expressed understanding for the inconvenience caused to local residents. However, he stated, “If we start the game earlier, at 8:00 pm, it would make a difference, as we would have more time to finish the match on the same day.”

At present, the first Center Court match begins at 1:30 pm, which puts players assigned to the last match at risk of running into the curfew. Djokovic proposes moving the start time forward to 12:00 pm to reduce the likelihood of matches being affected by time restrictions. However, the tournament organizers have not shown any inclination to make this change.

Sally Bolton, the president of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), dismissed the possibility, stating, “There is no guarantee that the first match at Center Court would be shortened.”

Wimbledon Quarter-Finals: Djokovic’s Next Challenge

On the 11th, Djokovic will go head-to-head with Russia’s Andrei Rublev, currently ranked 26th in the world and seventh in the tournament. Djokovic has a record of 3 wins and 1 loss against Rublev.

Contrasting Curfew Policies in Tennis

Interestingly, other major tennis tournaments, such as the Australian Open, do not have a strict curfew policy. In the second round of the Australian Open men’s singles held in January, a match between Andy Murray from the UK and Nashi Kokinakis from Australia lasted until 4 am. The match, dubiously termed “Midnight Madness,” began at 10:20 pm and continued for almost six hours. Despite some spectators dozing off, the victorious Murray expressed his dissatisfaction, stating, “It is not pleasant for anyone, including the players, the fans, and the referees.”

Tennis is famous for being intense. In order to hit the ball, you have to constantly turn your back. There is no choice but to consume a lot of physical strength.

Can Novak Djokovic (36, Serbia), world number 2 in men’s tennis, who is aiming for a fifth consecutive victory in Wimbledon men’s singles, overcome the poor conditions of playing tennis for three consecutive days and reach the semi-finals?

Novak Djokovic relieves himself after defeating Hubert Hurkaci during the men’s singles round of 16 at Wimbledon in London, England. / Reuters News 1

In the Wimbledon men’s singles round of 16 held on the 10th (local time) in London, England, Djokovic defeated Hubert Hurkaci (26, Poland, 18th) with a set score of 3-1 (7-6) after a bloody battle.<8-6> 7-6<8-6> 5-7 6-4) and on to the quarter-finals. Scoring results that seem ordinary at first glance. The problem is that this game was held for ‘2 days and 1 night’.

What happened?

The round of 16 between Djokovic and Hurkaci was originally held on the 9th. He was assigned to the third Center Court game that day. However, in the men’s and women’s singles rounds of 16 matches, full sets of bloody battles took place. Each game lasted over 3 hours. Naturally, the start of the Djokovic-Hurkachi match was delayed, and they eventually stepped onto the center court stage around 8:30pm.

Djokovic gained momentum by leading two sets in a row after a close tie, but the clock pointed to 11:00 pm and the match had to be stopped. This was due to the ‘curfew rule’ which only exists in Wimbledon among the four major tennis tournaments (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open). At Wimbledon, there is a rule not to play after 11pm. To minimize inconvenience to local residents, Wimbledon does not hold matches after 11 pm, so everyone has to ‘go home’.

Novak Djokovic (left) and Hubert Hurkaci pack their bags and leave the court during the men’s singles round of 16 matches at Wimbledon in London, England, on the 9th (local time), due to a curfew. / AP Yonhap News

Djokovic and Hurkaci were no exception. Both had to pack up and leave the court. After that, they came back in the 10th and finished the match, and Djokovic won in the end.

But it was never a sweet victory. Djokovic, aged 36 and the oldest among the quarter-finalists, has to play the quarter-final the next day, which is the 11th. In tennis tournaments, it is common for players to play every other day to regain their stamina, but Djokovic had to play for three consecutive days due to the tournament’s operating time limit. This is a part that can be physically demanding.

Novak Djokovic, right, shakes hands with Hubert Hurkaci after defeating Hubert Hurkaci in the men’s singles round of 16 at Wimbledon in London, England, 10 (local time). / Reuters Yonhap News

After the match with Hurkaci, Djokovic said, “I understand the Wimbledon curfew rules considering the inconvenience of local residents, etc.” If you do that, it will make a difference,” he said. He then complained about the inconvenience, saying, “If I start the game at 8:00 pm, I’m obsessed with thinking that I won’t be able to finish the game that day.”

Currently, the first match at Center Court starts at 1:30 pm That is why, in the early stages of the tournament, where many matches are held, the players assigned to play the last center court match of the day that is easy to suffer from the curfew. Djokovic believes moving it forward to 12:00 pm will make the later match a little less likely to be subject to time limits.

However, the organizers don’t seem to have any intention of moving yet.

Sally Bolton, president of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), which hosts Wimbledon, drew the line, saying, “There is no guarantee that the first match at Center Court will be shortened.”

Andrei Rublev. / Reuters News 1

Djokovic will face Russia’s Andrei Rublev (26th, 7th) in the quarter-finals on the 11th. Djokovic has a record of 3 wins and 1 loss.

Meanwhile, in other major tournaments, there were cases where players played until dawn because there was no separate curfew. In the second round of the Australian Open men’s singles held in January, Andy Murray (36, UK, 40th) and Nashi Kokinakis (27th, 90th) from Australia wore their rackets until 4 am. The match started around 10:20 pm at the time, and the two players continued to fight for almost six hours, and it was called ‘Midnight Madness’. Some spectators were seen sleeping in the stands. Murray, who was victorious at the time, said after the match, “I don’t know who this match was for. It is not pleasant for anyone, including the players, the fans, and the referees,” he said.

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