Wimbledon to Scrap Day of Rest From 2022

Tennis - Wimbledon Preview - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - June 30, 2019 General view over empty courts. Reuters
Tennis - Wimbledon Preview - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - June 30, 2019 General view over empty courts. Reuters
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Wimbledon to Scrap Day of Rest From 2022

Tennis - Wimbledon Preview - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - June 30, 2019 General view over empty courts. Reuters
Tennis - Wimbledon Preview - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - June 30, 2019 General view over empty courts. Reuters

Wimbledon organizers announced on Tuesday that the traditional day of rest in the middle of the tournament would be scrapped from 2022 as they fine-tune plans for this year's event.

The tournament -- the only Grand Slam played on grass -- is returning this year after it was cancelled in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam that has a day off during the fortnight but this provides scheduling challenges, particularly when there is bad weather in the first week.

At the tournament's spring press briefing, All England Club chairman Ian Hewitt said developments in the care of grass courts meant 14 days of play was now deemed possible.

The change means fourth-round matches, which have all been played on a packed day known as "manic Monday", will be held across two days.

"That second Monday was popular with many people but it did create significant challenges," said Hewitt. "I am not sure if it did full justice to that day's tennis and we feel spreading it over two days does it more justice.

"I think it is important for the development of the sport that Wimbledon should be even more accessible to those who wish to watch it."

England is on track to drop all Covid restrictions on June 21 after a successful vaccination drive, with Wimbledon due to start the following week.

Organizers are planning for a minimum spectator capacity of 25 percent at the event in southwest London, with the hope that this can be increased. Tickets are expected to go on sale in June.

"The reality we are dealing with is how to deliver a tournament under today's (government) guidance," said All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton.

"June 21 is a not-before date and as you can imagine it would be reckless to plan a tournament when one does not know what the conditions are going to be after that

"We are planning the tournament as of what today's conditions are but also capable of showing flexibility and agility if they change."



Rybakina Reaches Semifinals in Montreal After Injured Kostyuk Stops in Second Set 

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan walks off the court after winning due to a forfeit against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine during their quarterfinals singles women's match on Day Nine of the WTA 1000 National Bank Open at IGA Stadium on August 4, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Getty Images/AFP
Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan walks off the court after winning due to a forfeit against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine during their quarterfinals singles women's match on Day Nine of the WTA 1000 National Bank Open at IGA Stadium on August 4, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Getty Images/AFP
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Rybakina Reaches Semifinals in Montreal After Injured Kostyuk Stops in Second Set 

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan walks off the court after winning due to a forfeit against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine during their quarterfinals singles women's match on Day Nine of the WTA 1000 National Bank Open at IGA Stadium on August 4, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Getty Images/AFP
Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan walks off the court after winning due to a forfeit against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine during their quarterfinals singles women's match on Day Nine of the WTA 1000 National Bank Open at IGA Stadium on August 4, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Getty Images/AFP

Elena Rybakina advanced to the National Bank Open semifinals after Marta Kostyuk was forced to retire with an apparent arm injury Monday with Rybakina leading 6-1, 2-1.

Rybakina, the No. 9 seed from Kazakhstan, converted three of her 10 break-point chances in the quarterfinal matchup at IGA Stadium. The players shook hands at the 54-minute mark before the 24th-seeded Kostyuk exited the court in tears.

After the third game, the Ukrainian's trainers wrapped her forearm in medical tape.

Rybakina will face the winner of Monday night’s matchup between Canadian teen sensation Victoria Mboko and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain.

Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff in straight sets Saturday, winning the lopsided match in just 62 minutes.

The 18-year-old from Toronto has surged from outside the top 300 to No. 85 in the WTA rankings in a breakthrough year.

The tournament final is Thursday. The event's top five seeds were eliminated before the quarterfinals.