Fury on and off the court as controversies plague 2025 Wimbledon tennis championships

Wimbledon has been rocked by some major controversies, including one female player who was forced to reveal her undershorts, in what has been one of the most contentious tennis championships in recent history.

Anything that could go wrong has gone wrong at this year’s Wimbledon.

The biggest tennis tournament of the year is struggling with a series of inconvenient truths, that have dogged play and infuriated top-seed players leading up to this weekend’s finals.

The long-revered third grand slam of the year has made headlines for more than the centre-court duals organisers would have hoped.

And the controversies are far reaching: a pesky 11pm curfew, a faulty electric line calling system, decisions to close the centre court roof, attire crackdowns, and the perennial grass and clay tournament gap debate.

Top-tenner Ben Shelton’s explosive outbreak at the chair umpire after his match with Australian Rinky Hijikata was just one of the many dramatic scenes that unfolded on the lawns of the All England Tennis Club in London.

Ben Shelton exploded at the umpire after his second round match was suspended right before he was about to serve for the win. Picture: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Shelton was not happy play was suspended. Picture: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Play was suspended due to bad light just as Shelton prepared to serve for the match. Picture: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Hijikata, the world number 87, watched on as his second-round match with Shelton descended into chaos as play was suspended due to bad light just as the American prepared to serve for the match.

“This is unbelievable,” the world number 10 yelled out towards the chair umpire as he argued his case to finish the match, which tennis analyst Coco Vandeghwe said “could be over in a matter of minutes”.

It was over in less than that – just 69 seconds – with a journalist later quipping at Shelton’s press conference that several of his answers to the press “lasted longer than today’s match”.

American number one Taylor Fritz and France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard were locked at two-sets-all when their match was suspended at the mercy of a controversial 11pm curfew imposed by London’s Merton Council which aims to consider local residents.

Taylor Fritz reacts after play was suspended. Picture: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Fritz went on to win the match. Picture: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Critics were also out as tennis’ biggest names bowed out early, raising concern that the transition of just three weeks between the French Open (clay court) and Wimbledon (grass court) was too short and demanding for players.

Top-ten players Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Zheng Qinwen and Paula Badosa suffered first-round exits, while Alexander Zverev, Lorenzo Musetti, Holger Rune and Daniil Medvedev had similar fates in the men’s draw.

French Open champion Coco Guaff suffered a shock first round exit at the hands of Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska. Picture: AFP

Patrick Mouratoglou, Naomi Osaka’s coach added: “Once again I have to say clearly there is not enough time between Roland Garros and Wimbledon for the top players to perform well at Wimbledon.”

Players separately criticised the speed of the courts and that they were “too dry”, especially Canadian Denis Shapovalov who called it “a joke”, with Wimbledon’s head groundsman Neil Stubley saying heat had contributed to slower courts this year.

Wimbledon’s courts have been slammed as being too dry and too slow. Picture: AFP

The electronic line calling system (run by tech company Hawk-Eye) – used to replace human line judges for improved accuracy – was slammed by former French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova who accused the chair umpire in her fourth round match against Brit Sonay Kartal of “stealing a game” and favouring the local player after a clear blunder with the technology.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova reacts as the umpire investigates a malfunction in line calling technology. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova accused the umpire of ‘stealing a game’ and favouring the local player. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Umpire Nico Helwerth was accused of stealing a game off Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova when the electronic line calling system failed. Picture: AP Photo/Alastair Grant

Wimbledon bosses later apologised, saying the live ELC system had been “deactivated in error”.

British tennis star Emma Raducanu also criticised the ELC, saying the questionable calls were “disappointing” and “so wrong”.

Former two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray blasted organisers over a decision to close the roof during Jannik Sinner’s centre court match against Grigor Dimitrov.

“So ridiculous to close the roof at this stage of the match,” Murray wrote on X.

“At least an hour of light left. Well over a set of tennis can still be played. It’s an outdoor tournament.”

Jelena Ostapenko caused a stir when Wimbledon officials questioned her outfit. Picture: EuroSport

Wimbledon’s traditional all-white attire was also called into question when French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko lifted up her skirt to reveal her green undershorts in protest after being questioned by an umpire.

All eyes will be on Wimbledon on Sunday as the men’s final is played, with organisers desperately hoping the match can be played out drama-free so the tournament doesn’t end on a sour note.

Originally published as Fury on and off the court as controversies plague 2025 Wimbledon tennis championships