Tennis fans have reacted with anger after the BBC scheduled British wildcard Arthur Fery’s historic Wimbledon semi-final against Alexander Zverev at 1.30pm on a weekday, meaning millions of people at work will be unable to watch the match live. The decision, reportedly made to avoid a clash with the World Cup, has sparked accusations that the broadcaster is prioritising football over a rare homegrown tennis breakthrough at the All England Club.
Fery, 21, has captured the imagination of the British public with his run to the last four at SW19, becoming the first British wildcard to reach a Wimbledon semi-final in decades. His opponent, Germany’s Alexander Zverev, is a former French Open champion and one of the most formidable players on the tour. The match is widely seen as the biggest test of Fery’s young career, and many fans had hoped it would be scheduled in a prime-time evening slot to maximise viewership.
Instead, the BBC opted for an early afternoon start, a time when the majority of the working population is either commuting, at their desks, or unable to take a long lunch break. Social media has been flooded with complaints from tennis supporters who argue that the scheduling shows a lack of respect for the sport and for the achievement of a young British player. One fan wrote: «This is a disgrace. A British player in a Wimbledon semi-final and they put it on at 1.30pm on a weekday. Football gets all the prime slots.»
The BBC has defended the decision by pointing to the need to avoid a clash with the World Cup, which is taking place simultaneously. The broadcaster’s schedule is notoriously crowded during major international football tournaments, and the corporation has a long-standing commitment to covering the World Cup extensively. However, critics argue that the two events could have been accommodated on different channels or that the tennis could have been moved to a later slot after the football finished.
Fery’s run at Wimbledon has already made him a household name in British tennis circles. He entered the tournament as a wildcard, meaning he was given a place in the main draw despite not having a high enough ranking to qualify automatically. His progress through the rounds has been marked by a series of impressive victories, including a straight-sets win over a seeded player in the quarter-finals. His semi-final against Zverev is expected to be a gruelling contest, with the German known for his powerful serve and baseline game.
The scheduling controversy has also drawn attention to the broader issue of how British broadcasters balance coverage of different sports. Tennis fans have long complained that Wimbledon, despite being one of the most prestigious events in the sporting calendar, is often treated as a secondary concern when it clashes with football. The BBC, which holds the rights to both Wimbledon and the World Cup, has a difficult task in managing its schedule, but many believe that a British semi-finalist deserves better treatment.
Princess of Wales Kate Middleton, a known tennis enthusiast and patron of the All England Club, has already shown her support for Fery throughout the championships. She has attended several of his matches and is expected to be on Centre Court for the semi-final if her schedule allows. Her presence would add a further layer of significance to the occasion, but it does little to solve the problem for fans who cannot take time off work to watch.
For those unable to watch live, the BBC will offer highlights and extended coverage later in the evening, but many fans argue that this is not the same as experiencing the match as it happens. The sense of occasion, the tension of each point, and the collective excitement of a live sporting moment are lost when the result is already known. Some have called for the BBC to reconsider its scheduling or to make the match available on its iPlayer platform without restrictions, but so far the broadcaster has not indicated any change of plan.
Fery himself has remained focused on the task at hand, saying in interviews that he is grateful for the support and determined to give his best performance. He acknowledged that the timing might be inconvenient for some fans but added that he hopes they will find a way to watch, even if it means catching up later. His calm and mature response has won him further admirers, but it has not dampened the frustration of those who feel let down by the broadcaster.
The semi-final is scheduled to take place on Centre Court, with play beginning at 1.30pm BST. The winner will advance to the Wimbledon final, where they will face either Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic, who are contesting the other semi-final. For Fery, a place in the final would be a fairytale ending to a remarkable tournament, but first he must overcome Zverev in what promises to be a fiercely contested match.
