Boos rain down at Wimbledon as Taylor Fritz's clash against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard suspended due to curfew

7NEWS

a day ago

Boos have rained down at Wimbledon after play was suspended after the fourth set of the first-round clash between fifth seed Taylor Fritz and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Fritz fought back from two sets down and 5-1 in the fourth set tiebreaker to force a deciding set on Court No.1, which has a retractable roof.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Wimbledon clash stopped due looming curfew.
It was about 10.15 pm, and the players met up at the net with an official to discuss whether or not to continue.
After a short discussion, the tournament referee made the decision to suspend the match despite there still be 45 minutes until the controversial 11pm curfew.
'Ladies and gentlemen, due to the late time of the day, we will not be able to finish the match. Therefore the match will be suspended until tomorrow. Play is suspended,' he chair umpire said.
The crowd erupted in boos at the decision, while Fritz was clearly fuming at the call.
Fritz did not appear pleased about the interruption of his match. He looked toward his guest box with his palms up and said: 'I couldn't do anything. I tried.'
Australian tennis great Todd Woodbridge was 'surprised' by the decision.
'I'm a little surprised by that decision, I think the referees have come out too early, they could have given them the option,' he said on Stan Sport.
'We still had over 45 minutes to go to curfew. The sets we have had have all been under 45 minutes, they have been close to it, but there was definitely a chance of an outcome there tonight.
'I think for Mpetshi Perricard, good for him, he should get off and be very happy with that.
'Taylor Fritz would be a little annoyed by that decision I have no doubt because he played an exceptional tiebreaker from 5-1 down.'
Mpetshi Perricard took the initial two sets 7-6 (6), 7-6 (8), before Fritz grabbed the next two 6-4, 7-6 (6).
In a match between two of the tour's top servers, Mpetshi Perricard hit 33 aces before play was stopped, and Fritz hit 24. Mpetshi Perricard never earned a break point during the four sets contested Monday; Fritz had five chances and converted one.
Fritz, a 27-year-old Californian, was a quarterfinalist at Wimbledon in 2022, losing to Rafael Nadal, and again a year ago, losing to Lorenzo Musetti.
Mpetshi Perricard, a 21-year-old Frenchman, reached the fourth round at the All England Club last year, also eliminated by Musetti.
The Frenchman also created Wimbledon history by clubbing the fastest serve ever at the tournament. He hammered a 153mph (246km/h) serve, which was five miles master than the previous record set by Taylor Dent in 2010.
Over at Centre Court, Monday's last match also was halted, with No. 3 Alexander Zverev, a three-time major finalist, even at a set apiece against Arthur Rinderknech when they stopped at 10:54 p.m.
There were no breaks of serve in either of the two sets they played. Rinderknech took the first 7-6 (3), and Zverev the second by a 7-6 (8) score.