Social media has blown up over scheduling issues that may see the women's final at Wimbledon delayed.
Due to the epic men's semi-final between eventual winner Kevin Anderson and John Isner that lasted six hours and 36 minutes, Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber's clash for the ages might not start on time.
Anderson and Isner's match was the second-longest in Wimbledon, behind only Isner's record 11-hour, five-minute first-round triumph over Frenchman Nicolas Mahut in 2010. Because of the length of the match, the second semi between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic started late.
The first point was played at 8:09 PM (local time) and due to the 11:00 PM curfew, there was never any chance that the match would be completed.
In fact, Djokovic was leading two sets to one before play was stopped for the night, and a no doubt weary crowd was sent to bed.
MORE: Wimbledon 2018: Isner thinks 12-all should be fifth-set limit after another Wimbledon slog
The match is set to begin at 1:00 PM local time, just an hour before the women's final between Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber.
Considering both Rafa and the Djoker will be fighting tooth and nail for a spot in their own final, it is likely that the women's scheduled start time of 2:00 PM will be pushed back.
The Twittersphere was not happy with this result, especially considering the All England club revealed they would not move the time of the men's final, despite it coinciding with the FIFA World Cup final between France and Croatia.
Here are the best reactions from tennis insiders:
i think they should play AFTER the woman final. Give the Women their due and give the boys more rest ....but i am NOT making the schedule.
— rennae stubbs (@rennaestubbs) July 13, 2018
Scrap that. Just been told that play will resume at 1pm tomorrow on Centre Court. The women's final, due to begin at 2pm, will likely be delayed #Wimbledon
— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) July 13, 2018
Unacceptable.
— Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) July 13, 2018
Absolutely unacceptable.
It’s bullshit. Sorry.
— Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) July 13, 2018
SERENA WILLIAMS IS AIMING TO TIE THE ALL-TIME RECORD IN MAJOR TITLES JUST 4 EVENTS IN FROM HER RETURN FROM GIVING BIRTH & SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS & SHE’S TAKING ON THE LEGEND ANGELIQUE KERBER WHO BEAT HER IN A SLAM FINAL AND IT’S GONNA GET BUMPED BECAUSE BOYS
— Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) July 13, 2018
It's decisions like this one that make the tilting of the scales glaringly obvious. It's decisions like this one that explain why people at large still perceive "women's tennis" as the lesser form of "tennis"; because a #Wimbledon final in "tennis" wouldn't get shafted like that.
— René Denfeld (@Renestance) July 13, 2018
If you are Serena Williams or Angelique Kerber, no way they want to have Rafa and Novak on at 1pm when it could go another couple of hours and delay them. They are in the final, they deserve to have a set start time
— Simon Cambers (@scambers73) July 13, 2018
can you believe this shit at #Wimbledon ???
— 🇦🇺 Ms Dingo 🏳️🌈 ♛ (@incredingo) July 14, 2018
they stop a match during a tie breaker? stupid curfew!! get with the fucking times. now the women's match is put back for hrs while they continue a mens match?? it's the fucking final you fools! sexist rubbish
Williams and Kerber have met in two previous Grand Slam finals, the 2016 Australian Open and also Wimbledon.
Kerber prevailed Down Under, while Williams won on grass.
The duo has played eight times in total, with Serena claiming victory on six occasions.
