Wimbledon 2025: Important of ‘slow’ grass courts to players

Canadian Dennis Shapovalov, number 27 in Wimbledon, was knocked on the first round by Mariano Neon of Argentina.

He was broken six times with his opponent as he had to face the first exit in the tournament since 2019.

“The balls are the worst, the grass attack has turned into a joke,” he said after his defeat.

“It is no longer grass, the court is slower than a soil. It is also not grass.”

Two -time champion Petra Quitova said things have changed over the years.

“I am not sure that it’s only grass,” he said that after his final presence at All England Club, 10th seeded Emma ended in the defeat of Emma Navaro.

“Perhaps it is slowing down with balls. Overall it is slowing down.”

In the first round, eight top -10 seeded players have gone out – the most tally at a single Grand Slam event in the open era.

Among those knocking out were the third -seeded Jessica Pegula, who said that Wimbledon’s courts “felt separate” but said: “It’s the grass – they are all kinds of different. It is a living surface, they are not going to play the same.”

Former Poland world number IGA Swiatek, who defeated Russian Polyina Kudematova 7-5 6-1 in their first round match, feels that Wimbledon Courts are playing slow, but expects to change things in the coming days.

“This (Wimbledon) was slow, and was more slippery with movement,” he said.

“But even with the heat and everything, the ball bounces differently how it will happen in the coming days, so I am not really focusing on it.

“With the change of weather, we have to adjust every day under different circumstances.”

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