Tennis writers were bemoaning a scheduling "catastrophe" at Wimbledon after Ash Barty got the jump on her quarter-final opponent.
Aussie world No.1 Barty completed her fourth round win against Barbora Krejcikova by 2.42pm at the All England Club on Monday, playing on Court One.
Her opponent was to be the winner of Alja Tomljanovic vs Emma Raducanu, which proved to be the Australian world No.75.
Yet Tomljanovic vs Raducanu was not scheduled next on Court One. They instead had to wait for the end of a four-hour men's five-setter, won by Felix Auger-Aliassime over Alexander Zverev, and did not start playing until about 8pm local time. Their match then went for one hour and 15 minutes, before Raducanu retired hurt, and was the last women's fourth-round clash to be completed.
It was believed that the men's match was given preference by the tournament's local broadcaster, the BBC. Due to the scheduling logjam around Middle Sunday and Manic Monday, Barty vs Tomljanovic will be played not before 4.30pm local time on Tuesday, meaning that the lower-ranked Aussie has had less than 24 hours recovery time.
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The Times tennis writer Stu Fraser referred to the matter as a "scheduling catastrophe".
"Captain Hindsight here... but not sure it was the best idea to schedule a women's match 3rd on today when the winner has to play the quarter-final tomorrow. Will probably be at least another hour before Raducanu vs Tomljanovic starts," Fraser wrote on Twitter during the Auger-Aliassime vs Zverev match.
"Seven of the eight winners in the women's singles draw are already through. Barty completed her match at 2:42pm, potentially five to six hours before her opponent finishes. I'm sure TV scheduling will be cited but it's compromising fairness as a result."
He later added: "Raducanu vs Tomljanovic is now on BBC One. All very well for the Beeb's ratings but not for the winner, who will go to bed late tonight and then return tomorrow to face Ashleigh Barty in the quarter-finals."
Metro UK's George Bellshaw wrote: "Looking like a shocker from Wimbledon scheduling Emma Raducanu's match last on Court 1."
While British journalists were following a ripping story in Raducanu, the 18-year-old, world No.338 wildcard playing her second WTA event, there was also criticism from American tennis writers.
Christopher Clarey of The New York Times tweeted: "Clearly a tactical error to schedule Raducanu & Tomljanovic for 3d on No. 1 Court. FAA & Zverev into a 5th set so won't start until 7.30pm or later. Women must turn around tomorrow & play quarterfinals. Barty, who will play the winner, already in the clubhouse for ages. Not right."
New York Times contributor Ben Rothenberg wrote: "Ash Barty finished her fourth round match at 2:42pm on Court 1. The match to determine her opponent tomorrow, Raducanu-Tomljanovic, is yet to begin on Court 1, still waiting for this fifth set of FAA-Zverev. Fairly baffling to put the men's match between those two.
"Very odd not to frontload the women's matches more on today's schedule considering they all come back to play their quarterfinals tomorrow."
Tomljanovic initially seemed unfazed by the scheduling issue, speaking after prevailing against Raducanu.
"To play Ash in the quarters - two Aussies, one will for sure go through to the semis - it's great," Tomljanovic said.
"I think everyone back home is really happy and I'm thrilled to play Ash. I'm hoping that it will be a great match."
The match will be Barty's first Wimbledon quarter-final, while Tomljanovic has made her deepest run at a Grand Slam tournament. Tomljanovic was up against a British sensation in Raducanu yet managed to maintain her focus in a 6-4 3-0 result.
"My dad and [boyfriend] Matteo [Berrettini] before the match, they were like, 'Look, we work to be in the fourth round of a Slam and play on Court One in Wimbledon. No matter the crowd being against you, it's going to be a privilege to be out there and just feel the energy'," she said.
WIMBLEDON ROUND FOUR RESULTS
Matteo Berrettini (7), Italy, def. Ilya Ivashka, Belarus, 6-4, 6-3, 6-1.
Karen Khachanov (25), Russia, def. Sebastian Korda, United States, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 10-8.
Denis Shapovalov (10), Canada, def. Roberto Bautista Agut (8), Spain, 6-1, 6-3, 7-5.
Novak Djokovic (1), Serbia, def. Cristian Garin (17), Chile, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.
Marton Fucsovics, Hungary, def. Andrey Rublev (5), Russia, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3.
Felix Auger-Aliassime (16), Canada, def. Alexander Zverev (4), Germany, 6-4, 7-6 (6), 3-6, 3-6, 6-4.
Roger Federer (6), Switzerland, def. Lorenzo Sonego (23), Italy, 7-5, 6-4, 6-2.
Ons Jabeur (21), Tunisia, def. Iga Swiatek (7), Poland, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1.
Aryna Sabalenka (2), Belarus, def. Elena Rybakina (18), Kazakhstan, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
Karolina Pliskova (8), Czech Republic, def. Liudmila Samsonova, Russia, 6-2, 6-3.
Ashleigh Barty (1), Australia, def. Barbora Krejcikova (14), Czech Republic, 7-5, 6-3.
Karolina Muchova (19), Czech Republic, def. Paula Badosa (30), Spain, 7-6 (6), 6-4.
Viktorija Golubic, Switzerland, def. Madison Keys (23), United States, 7-6 (3), 6-3.
Angelique Kerber (25), Germany, def. Coco Gauff (20), United States, 6-4, 6-4.
Ajla Tomljanovic, Australia, def. Emma Raducanu, Britain, 6-4, 3-0, ret.
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from WWOS https://wwos.nine.com.au/tennis/wimbledon-2021-ash-barty-scheduling-catastrophe-alja-tomljanovic-emma-raducanu-match/53388bf3-495d-4a05-acaf-ce3389e07bdf
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