Wimbledon 2018: Men's final will not be moved despite World Cup clash

Last updated on 9 July 2018.From the section Tennis597

Spectators watch the TV screen on Henman Hill at Wimbledon — Wimbledon organisers say football will not be shown on the big TV screen on 'Henman Hill'

Wimbledon 2018 on the BBC
Venue: All England Club, Wimbledon Dates: 2-15 July
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button, Connected TVs and the BBC Sport website and app; Live Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra commentary; Text commentary online.

The Wimbledon men's singles final will not be moved even if England reach the World Cup final on the same afternoon.

The tennis showpiece is scheduled for 14:00 BST on Sunday, with the football kicking off two hours later.

"We have said for a couple of years that the final will be played at 2pm, as it is every year," said All England Tennis Club boss Richard Lewis.

He also told BBC Sport Wimbledon's big TV screen on 'Henman Hill' was reserved for tennis.

England face Croatia in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday in Russia (19:00 BST), with the winner playing France or Belgium on Sunday (16:00 BST).

Victory would put England, champions in 1966, in the final for only the second time and the match is likely to overlap with the men's tennis final, which would normally last longer than two hours.

Tennis fan at Wimbledon watching England v Sweden on his phone — Some spectators at Wimbledon on Saturday watched England's 2-0 World Cup quarter-final win over Sweden on their phones

Lewis said he had not asked Fifa, football's world governing body, to consider moving the World Cup final to a different time.

"We are a sold-out event and there's massive interest. There are absolutely no plans to change anything," he added.

"We are very excited about England's success in the World Cup. We think it's fantastic for the spirit of the nation and there was a very good atmosphere here on Saturday when England beat Sweden.

"We didn't have one single complaint of anybody here feeling that the football interfered with their enjoyment of Wimbledon. We have free public Wi-Fi in many areas, so if people want to watch quietly on their phone or tablet they are able to do so."

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597 comments

Comment posted by Washboy, at 11:56 9 Jul 2018
Quite right too.... I am a fervent football supporter but there is no need to reschedule the whole world just in case England get to the Final. People will already have made travel plans and many have hotel bookings to watch a tennis final and they should not be inconvenienced. It comes down to a choice, watch the football or the tennis, there are multiple ways of keeping up with both.
Comment posted by U16682907, at 12:05 9 Jul 2018
Lets just focus on winning against Croatia shall we then 'worry' about a potential final clash.
Comment posted by cliffbayfan, at 12:04 9 Jul 2018
People have a choice.....no need to move times!
Comment posted by Beeson93, at 12:00 9 Jul 2018
Storm in a tea cup, loads of ways to watch both if you want to.
Comment posted by Diddleypete, at 12:12 9 Jul 2018
Why should any sport revolve around football? Chances are there are a lot of tennis fans who couldn't give two hoots about football! At least when a british person wins Wimbledon you don't get Aholes jumping up & down on ambulances!
Comment posted by AG, at 12:03 9 Jul 2018
If Sir Bobby Charlton would rather watch the Wimbledon 3rd round than the world cup quarter final, why should Wimbledon change the timing of the final because of the world cup final?
Comment posted by toto, at 11:55 9 Jul 2018
There is a tennis tournament on ?
Comment posted by redgringo, at 12:14 9 Jul 2018
29. Get over it. He's married to an English woman, lives in Surrey and his kids were born in England. It's people like you that spurred his comment in the first place.
Comment posted by Old in years Young at heart, at 12:16 9 Jul 2018
England MIGHT be playing in the World Cup Final, but there isn’t a British player left in Wimbledon men’s singles. You can’t change the timing of a match to pander to the English - there's always iPlayer. What about those who've made travel arrangements, for people of other nationalities who want to see their tennis players and schedules for countries all over the world who pay for the TV rights?
Comment posted by Jonathan Davies, at 12:14 9 Jul 2018
Why should the Tennis move for the World Cup Final. Two different events, both important. Watch one on a tablet and watch one on the telly. Simple
Comment posted by Agent 47, at 12:17 9 Jul 2018
I like the tennis, love the football. As a spectacle though there is no comparison. Just hope we get through and what a day to look forward to next Sunday.

As for Murray's "anti Englishness"....never let the facts get in the way of a good story! It's not even a good story come to think of it. Just another way to knock our own. Pathetic.
Comment posted by titleist, at 12:26 9 Jul 2018
Non story until England win the semi against Croatia
Comment posted by Judith, at 12:21 9 Jul 2018
I am heartily sick of the constant football references within the Wimbledon coverage. I am not interested in football and I certainly don't want to hear about it whilst trying to enjoy Wimbledon. Football fans would not tolerate a reverse of the situation. Also fed up with commentators talking through points during play when they are not interested in the game in question.
Comment posted by Rastamadeus, at 12:15 9 Jul 2018
Why is it at 4pm anyway, when the final in recent years has been the evening? Don't see why they should change it anyway. Yes, i prefer football over the tennis but unlike a lot of people in this comment section I don't think the world revolves around my interests alone.
Comment posted by King Bee, at 12:21 9 Jul 2018
29. Posted by PhilMitchell

Presumably you not understand the difference?!?
When it comes to football England v Scotland in the oldest and one of the biggest rivalries in the world.
He supports Scotland because he's Scottish. So why on earth would he want England to win?
When it comes to tennis he represents GB therefore the 'Home Nations' rivalry does not come into it.
Get it?
Comment posted by Stephen, at 12:12 9 Jul 2018
Is it just me, or does it feel like tempting fate to be having these conversations before England even get through to the final? Turn it down, please. We might have another penalty shoot-out on Wednesday, against the team which has just won two penalty shoot-outs. People are taking too much for granted and it makes me nervous, more than it did before Sweden because Croatia are better than Sweden.
Comment posted by william2701, at 12:01 9 Jul 2018
It was in 2015 that FIFA announced that the final of the 2018 World Cup would kick off at 6pm local time (3pm GMT, 4pm BST). Too late for anyone to do anything about it now.
Comment posted by brightonrock, at 14:27 9 Jul 2018
Believe it or not there are actually people in this country who don’t give a toss about football. Hard to believe I know. But, I’m one of them and I will be enjoying the tennis. To all you footie fans...enjoy and I wish England the best of luck.
Comment posted by Ecopod, at 13:00 9 Jul 2018
110 PhilMitchell
"Andy Murray is not British. Only in terms of legality is he 'British".

So he is British then - it takes a special kind of stupid to start an argument, argue against it, then prove it is wrong all in one short sentence. Well done.

Anyhoo I'm a Scottish tennis fan and they should move it to maximise coverage and yes I do hope England make the final and I would watch both.
Comment posted by U10937403, at 12:08 9 Jul 2018
Great somewhere to go to get away from football, except for all the people on their mobiles checking the score constantly as Saturday...