Day 1 of the 2025 Wimbledon tournament exploded with drama, twists, and heartbreak. From start to finish, it was chaos wrapped in grass-court glory: top seed Carlos Alcaraz barely escaped an early exit against a relentless Italian veteran, while former GS champion Daniil Medvedev shockingly bowed out in his opening match. But the real sting came for American ace Taylor Fritz. After a grueling battle on the opening day, Fritz couldn’t even finish his match, stopped cold by Wimbledon’s strict rule. One of the tournament’s top seeds left hanging in mid-fight. Wondering what just happened? The madness has only begun.

Boos echoed through the stands at Wimbledon as chaos unfolded late into the night. The high-stakes first-round match between Taylor Fritz and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard was abruptly halted after the 4th set. At around 10:15 PM UK time, the players met at the net with an official to decide whether to push forward, and just like that, the match was halted. Shockwaves hit social media when Portuguese journalist José Morgado fired off on X, writing, “What? Play suspended on court 1 before 5th set at 10.18pm, 40 minutes before curfew. There was a good chance they could finish this set in 40 minutes. Nonsense tbh. Fritz is furious. Crowd too. And rightly so.”

As the tension rose, so did Fritz’s fury. Multiple X users captured his raw frustration, quoting, “Fritz wants to keep playing but the supervisor said they should stop. ‘Then don’t ask me then,’ said Fritz.” The American didn’t hold back: “We have more time than our longest set,” he argued. But the decision stood. The match will resume tomorrow, unfinished business, left smoldering.

The drama hit its peak on Court No.1 as Taylor Fritz mounted a fierce comeback, clawing his way back from two sets down and 5-1 in the 4th-set tiebreak to force a deciding fifth. The roof was on, the crowd electric, and momentum firmly in the Americans’ corner. But then, chaos struck. 

With 45 full minutes still on the clock before Wimbledon’s controversial 11 PM curfew, a brief discussion between players and officials led to a jarring call, the match was suspended. The chair umpire delivered the blow: “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.”

Boos rained down as disbelief swept through the stands. Fritz, visibly fuming, looked up to his box and said in frustration, “I couldn’t do anything. I tried.” Later, on Instagram, he revealed the real reason the match didn’t go on. “They would’ve let us play if my opponent agreed to, I said I want to, he didn’t,” he wrote. The heartbreak was real, and so was the fury.

So what’s this infamous Wimbledon curfew all about? Well, until 2009, play naturally ended with sunset, as there were no lights or roofs on any courts. But when Centre Court got a major facelift, with a retractable roof and floodlights, a new deal was struck with local residents. 

Play could continue past dark, but only up to 11 PM local time. The reason? The London Underground shuts down at midnight. With the nearest Tube station a 15-minute walk away, the curfew ensures fans can get home safely.

Are there exceptions? Yes! But only just. Wimbledon curfew calls operate on a razor-thin margin. If a match is moments from ending or locked in a dramatic tiebreak, officials may stretch the clock by a few minutes. Back in 2012, Andy Murray wrapped up a final set 6-1 at 11:02 PM, a rare exception made because the match was nearly over. But Wimbledon doesn’t bend rules far. Not even for momentum, emotion, or a roaring crowd.

And now, the verdict is splitting opinions. Former pros and pundits are chiming in with mixed reactions, some siding with the rulebook, others questioning its rigidity. Ultimately, both Fritz, a recent Eastbourne Open champion, and the fans were disappointed due to a time constraint unrelated to the match itself.

Former Aussie pro questions All England Club’s approach towards the match

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard stormed through the opening two sets 7-6(6), 7-6(8), before Taylor Fritz clawed his way back with grit and fire, taking the next two 6-4, 7-6(6). At 6-all in the 4th-set tiebreak, Fritz dug deep, clinching two straight points to force a decider. Pounding his chest with raw fury, he roared, “Let’s f—ing go! Come on!” The crowd ignited, but at 10:15 PM, the intensity gave way to confusion as both players met at the net with an official to decide if play would continue.

Moments later, the chair umpire delivered the gut punch: play was suspended until tomorrow. The crowd erupted in disapproval, and tennis legend Todd Woodbridge wasn’t convinced either. “I’m a little surprised by that decision,” he said. “The referee has come out too early. They could have given them the option. We still had 45 minutes before curfew. All the sets that we’ve had have taken under 45 minutes.”

Woodbridge didn’t mince words. “They were close to it but there was definitely a chance of an outcome there tonight. It’s good for Mpetshi Perricard. He should be very happy with that but Taylor Fritz would be a little annoyed I have no doubt,” he added later.

Now, play resumes Monday morning. Both players get time to recover physically, but mentally, the tides have shifted. Fritz holds the momentum. Perricard must reset. But in tennis, nothing’s ever guaranteed, especially not on grass.