Wimbledon Stars Face Criticism Over Match Delays, Scheduling Frustrations

At Wimbledon 2025, American tennis star Frances Tiafoe faced criticism from BBC commentators John Lloyd and Andrew Castle for taking an extended bathroom break during his second-round match against Cameron Norrie, which was viewed as an attempt to disrupt Norrie's momentum. Tiafoe delayed over seven minutes before returning to the court, drawing sharp disapproval from commentators who called the move 'ridiculous' and 'absolutely ridiculous,' although it did not prevent Norrie from winning the match. Meanwhile, Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp expressed frustration after his second-round match against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina was suspended due to poor lighting, exacerbated by his consecutive daily match schedule, which he criticized as unfair and blamed tournament scheduling. Additionally, Canadian Denis Shapovalov criticized the Wimbledon grass courts and balls, describing the surface as slower than clay and lamenting the poor conditions, which he blamed for his early exit. These incidents highlight player frustrations with match scheduling, court conditions, and gamesmanship during the tournament.