Taylor Fritz wasn’t happy when his first-round Wimbledon match was suspended after he stormed back to take the fourth set in a tiebreak and force a decider. The No. 4 seed was in trouble when he dropped the first two sets to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard under the roof on Court 1.
He won the third set and then came back from a 1-5 deficit in the fourth set tiebreak but, after taking it 8-6, the supervisor came to the court for a discussion with both players as the 11pm curfew approached. Officials decided to postpone the match without starting the fifth set and boos rang out around Wimbledon’s second-biggest showcourt as both men walked off, to return on Tuesday.
Play at the All England Club must stop at 11pm every night as part of an agreement with the local Merton Council. But Fritz vs. Mpetshi Perricard was halted more than 40 minutes before the rule was set to come into effect.
Two-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist Fritz looked set to be the latest seeded player to fall victim to an upset on day one of the Championships when he lost the first two sets. And his time also appeared to be up when set four went to a tiebreak, as 6’8” Frenchman Mpetshi Perricard raced into the lead.
But the recent Eastbourne champion mounted a remarkable comeback and suddenly the score was all square at 6-7 6-7 6-4 7-6. Fritz sat down at his bench for the end-of-set changeover but the supervisor came to the court and convened around the net with both players to discuss the time limit.
Fans on Court 1 immediately started booing after seeing the supervisor, well aware that their time could be up. And Fritz didn’t seem best pleased himself.
“Well, if I was Taylor Fritz, I’d want to keep going here, try to keep the momentum. It’s just gone 10.15pm, the curfew is at 11. If it’s a long set there’s a chance they might have to come off at 5-5 potentially. Would you want to do that? That’s what they’re weighing up,” commentator Todd Woodbridge said.
Co-commentator Ronald McIntosh reminded viewers that three of the four sets had been tiebreaks, lasting between 44 to 48 minutes, while Woodbridge pointed out: “While we’re having this conversation we could’ve had two service games, the way they serve.”
McIntosh knew the fans weren’t happy, with the boos growing as talks continued and it became evident that no more tennis would be played. “Not what the crowd in attendance here on No. 1 Court want to happen,” he said.
“But a big decision about to be made here because as we pointed out in commentary, the momentum very much in favour of Taylor Fritz. I’m sure Mpetshi Perricard would love the opportunity to regroup, refuel, rehydrate, rest and to come back tomorrow for what is effectively a one-set shootout.”
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