The Fritz match coulda gone on, the Frenchie didn’t fancy it!

Taylor Fritz blames opponent for Wimbledon curfew controversy after match suspended
Fritz and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard were dragged off at two sets apiece in their first-round clash at 10.18pm on Monday evening

Taylor Fritz has explained the controversy around the decision to suspend his first-round match at Wimbledon and has put the responsibility at the feet of his opponent.

Fifth seed Fritz, who successfully defended his Eastbourne title a couple of days before the start of Wimbledon, was locked at two sets apiece with big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Monday evening when the decision was taken to suspend the clash and play to a conclusion on Tuesday.

Wimbledon’s famous curfew means that players must be off court by a hard deadline of 11pm although the fact that it was 10.18pm when this Court 1 clash was pulled off highlights the grey area that often exists around these decisions.

Fritz had just rallied from 5-1 down in the fourth-set tiebreak to keep the match going, ultimately triumphing 8-6 to force a decider with the score reading 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, and pounded his right fist on his chest, yelling, “Let's f****** go! Come on!" as he clinched the set-winning point.

The players would have had 42 minutes to complete a fifth set and their four previous sets had lasted 44 minutes, 48 minutes, 33 minutes and 45 minutes, meaning it would have been tight to complete the match in the timeframe.

But the American was clearly desperate to continue and was visibly frustrated when the officials then informed him that the players were being dragged off and would have to return on Tuesday. “Then don’t ask me,” Fritz exasperatedly said as he sat down in his chair and packed up his rackets, before saying to his box that he “couldn’t do anything.”

The crowd were similarly annoyed as they missed out on witnessing the conclusion to a gripping match that had been going on for two hours and 53 minutes until that point.

And now the 27-year-old has appeared to reveal more about the controversy on Instagram. On a post by user glue.guy which was bemoaning the curfew as “the dumbest rule in sports”, Fritz posted a reply stating “They would’ve let us play if my opponent agreed to, I said I wanted to he didn’t.”

Mpetshi Perricard’s apparent reluctance to play a fifth set would have been understandable, given that all the momentum was with his opponent – having not only fought back from two sets down to level the match but having been right on the brink of defeat at 5-1 in the fourth-set tiebreak

Borderline decisions on whether to begin another set ahead of the Wimbledon curfew are left up to the discretion of the officials, although the players are often consulted.

Had to laugh at Ron The Skull commentating! Thought he was watching Pirates, said, “That was a Swashbuckling backhand from Pernod!”

Unfortunately for Ron Fritz foiled him as the rotund lady started to gargle!

as was stated earlier on Swifty...

this 1pm / 1.30 pm start is madness...

all coz of the Royal Box nonsense imv...

Camilla can't be arsed getting up a wee bit earlier than normal...

get the games started at 11am ffs.

Volynets levels up. Looks untroubled by the queen of slice, and now looks favourite. Nottingham winner out, Homburg winner out, Queens winner to follow? Great formguide.

Hibby, I am aware of how the points work but a player who competes in 30 tournaments in 12 months is likely to get more points than one of the same standard who only enters 20. I know the Grand Slams count for far more but outside of the players who regularly get past round 3, there are only 4 slams so not that many points for the also rans. It is also self fulfilling as only 64 or even 32 get into the 500 and 1000 events and it is likely to be the same ones most weeks. There are dozens of players in the top 100 who have once been top 30 but don't play enough to get seeded. If they make it into Wimbledon and raise their game it is not surprising that they can still beat someone ranked 50 places above them.

i don't really agree that the more tournaments you play the higher your seeding will be tbh sageform...

there is the burn out factor...

some folk want to be fresh for the bigger events...

some folk will want to play week in week out (lower ranked players)...

it's a complicated scenario and it ain't a one size fits all scenario imv...

that's just my view...

wouldn't be the first time my view is utter poppyc0ck tbh...

as i'm often reminded.

Does Siniakova still throw in her drama queen act?

Krejcikova won Wimbledon 2024 coz Rybakina bottled it big time imv.

Muchova looks like going out...

lassies career in tatters.

Fritz game back on...

Didn't know Vincent Kompany played tennis as well as football, playing Dan Evans now, not bad on BBC2.

Fritz wins....

total anti-climax...

well done the authorities for ruining a fantastic sporting spectacle....

much appreciated.

well done the authorities for ruining a fantastic sporting spectacle...

The Frenchman chose not to play on last night! Wobbled then and wobbled out now!

Siniakova played well in the 3rd set dd...

Swiatek on ch970...

6-5 up first set...

still on serve tho.

Women's tennis?

Some need a sack check

Swiatek takes the 1st set 7-5...

Rinderknech v Zverev back on.

Samsonova very hit and miss for me.

Going well Siniakova's backhand one of the best shots, plenty of purchase and depth.

Kvitova has made a decent start, but I would expect the very bland Navarro to eventually wear her down.

Ridiculous that they are paid the same as men.  Make them play up to five sets to earn the equal pay and listen to the wailing of misogyny and toxic masculinity!