​Wimbledon is the only grand slam tennis event that enforces a strict 11pm curfew, a policy rooted in its location and the surrounding residential community. Unlike the Australian Open, which saw Andy Murray’s 4am finish against Thanasi Kokkinakis in 2023 become the latest recorded grand slam match, and unlike the French Open and US Open where matches frequently extend well past midnight, Wimbledon’s rules are different. Since the Centre Court roof opened in 2009, the All England Club has operated under a tailored regime, with Centre Court now complemented by a roof over Court No 1 completed in 2019, enabling evening play on two courts under lights.
Wimbledon’s curfew is largely about minimizing disruption to local residents as fans depart and as transport networks wind down after matches. The residential setting means even with roofs that extend play into the evening, matches can still be halted as the clock nears 11pm. The curfew sits at 11pm local time (6pm ET) and has been in place since 2009, when the Centre Court roof first opened. The policy was established by Merton Council as a planning condition to balance the needs of hosting an international tennis event in a neighborhood, while taking into account transport and safe dispatch of spectators.
The official curfew rules state that a match is not allowed to continue beyond 11pm. There have been notable moments when this constraint has pressed on the action: Coco Gauff’s fourth-round match against Belinda Bencic in 2021 concluded at 10:58pm, just under the limit, two minutes shy of a potential suspension. Other matches have been paused or suspended in the past: the 2018 semifinal between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal began around 8pm and paused after the third set, and Andy Murray’s final singles appearance at Wimbledon, in 2023 against Stefanos Tsitsipas, spilled into the next day due to the curfew. In 2022, Alexander Zverev’s Centre Court match paused after two sets, while Taylor Fritz’s first-round clash with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard was suspended at 10:18pm with one final set to play—an outcome that sparked frustration from Fritz, who publicly criticized the situation after the match.
There have been rare adjustments to the schedule. In 2012, the curfew was tentatively stretched after Andy Murray defeated Marcos Baghdatis with the clock at 11:02pm local time; Murray was one game from victory as the clock struck 11. These instances illustrate that, while the rule is firm, there can be exceptional situations that warrant a slight extension. Yet the overarching framework remains: Wimbledon’s 11pm cut-off is designed to respect local residents, ensure safe and orderly transport home after day’s play, and preserve the unique balance that defines this championship’s character.