Wimbledon forced into last-minute schedule change with major clash moved and could make mid-tournament rule change

WIMBLEDON have been forced into a last-minute scheduling change.

The atrocious weather during the 2024 Championships fortnight in SW19 has led to lengthy rain delays on most days.

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That has seen the roof deployed for many of the matches on Centre Court and No1 Court.

And now Wimbledon chiefs have made the bold decision to switch the day of a major match.

The mixed doubles final was due to take place on Thursday.

However, despite the tournament starting last Friday, the first round of matches are still not yet completed.

So as a result, now the Scheduling Committee at the All England Club have opted to change the plan.

Instead, the mixed doubles final will take place after the men's singles final on Centre Court on Sunday.

That is when the mixed final used to be played before a change in 2022 to bring it forwards.

But tournament director Jamie Baker explained the weather forced Wimbledon into the shake-up.

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He said: "Due to the persistent wet weather across the past eight days of play, we have not yet managed to complete all first-round mixed doubles matches.

"The Scheduling Committee has determined that it is no longer possible to play the mixed doubles final on Thursday and has therefore made the decision to revise the Finals Schedule.

"This gives us the maximum flexibility to complete The Championships on time and to play all of the respective finals on Centre Court."

As a result, the ladies' doubles final has been brought forward to Saturday evening - after the ladies' singles and men's doubles.

And the mixed doubles will follow the men's singles final on Sunday, which kicks off at 2pm.

Wimbledon also revealed they may make a significant rule change midway through the mixed doubles event.

Matches in rounds one and two are playing any third sets as a match tie-break to ten.

However, depending on when the second round is done and dusted, All England chiefs may switch it up to a full third set for the latter rounds.

Wimbledon 2024 prize money

PRIZE MONEY for the 2024 Wimbledon Championships is a new record - and puts the grass-court Slam at the top of the tree.

The All England Club will dish out £50million across all the events - an increase of £5.3m and 11.9 per cent on last year, where singles champions Carlos Alcaraz and Marketa Vondrousova picked up £2.35m each.

However, the king and queen of grass this July will collect an extra £350,000 - taking the winner's earnings to £2.7m.

Here is the breakdown for the 2024 Wimbledon singles prize money:

• Winner: £2.7m
• Runner-up: £1.4m
• Semi-finalists: £715,000
• Quarter-finalists: £375,000
• Fourth round: £226,000
• Third round: £143,000
• Second round: £93,000
• First round: £60,000
• Overall total: £50m

Croatian Mate Pavic and Ukrainian Lyudmyla Kichenok lifted the mixed doubles title in 2023 and will try to defend their title.

But British star Neal Skupski and his American partner Desirae Krawczyk will hope to reclaim the crown they won in 2021 and 2022.

However, the dream-team pairing of Andy Murray and Emma Raducnau entered the draw - before pulling out just hours before their first match when the 2021 US Open champ was struggling with "wrist stiffness".

Tennis stars’ new careers

PLENTY of tennis stars have stayed involved in the sport since retiring.

But others pursued very different careers. Here are some of the best…

• I reached French Open and Wimbledon finals as a teenager but I quit to become a nun
• I won Wimbledon mixed doubles with my sister but got fed up with English weather so now run luxury B&B
• I was tipped for stardom aged 12 but retrained to become high-flying lawyer
• I earned £9m and won French Open before setting up bistro with Brazilian model girlfriend
• I’m last Frenchman to win Roland Garros, now I’m singer with six albums hitting No1 in charts
• I'm former world No1 but quit aged 29 - instead I went on to play professional poker and golf
• I was destined for the top but swapped lobs for labs as award-winning Harvard physicist

The withdrawal sparked frustration in Murray's camp and led to Judy Murray taking to X with cryptic posts.

But Raducanu responded with a short, simple message.

She said: “I hadn’t seen Judy’s reaction. I’m sure she didn’t mean it.

“I think with every decision, people are entitled to their opinions. Of course, there was a bit of a cloud around the decision.

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“I don’t think I would have done it any other way. I think in this sport especially, as an individual, you have to make your own calls and prioritise yourself.

“Especially with my history, I just had to put myself first.”

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