There is nothing permanent except change. Heard that right? And in the ever-growing arena of tennis, it seems more so. This week, the US Open made history by extending its main-draw to 15 days, joining the Australian Open in embracing a longer tournament window. The French Open earlier revolutionized its schedule back in 2006 with a Sunday start. But what about Wimbledon? A tournament founded in 1877 and immersed in centuries of tradition? Well, they aren’t changing the schedule, not for now at least. There are reasons for it! Tim Henman, former ATP pro and member of the All England Tennis Club board, has come up with the explanation.

Offering his insights on Sky Sports, Henman explained,” I think the appetite to go to 15 days is zero, first and foremost because of the courts.” Former world no 4. said. 

He further added, “The big issue from when it was a 13-day event was that the middle Sunday was absolutely about watering the court to make sure that it was going to be still alive for the latter part of the tournament.”

“Centre Court is the one that gets played on the most because it’s used every day and to have it in the best possible condition for the final weekend, it was a big decision to go to 14 days. The research and data around that, you’re looking at 80 hours of tennis on Centre, that’s the sort of maximum.”

Change at Wimbledon may not come as a tournament extension, but it is arriving in a way that it revisits sport’s most historic stage. Starting this year, the All England Club will eliminate all 300 line judges, replacing them with an artificial intelligence-based electronic system, marking the first time in the tournament’s 147-year history that human officials won’t call the lines. The system, already in place at the US Open since 2020, makes automated voice calls within a fraction of a second. While Wimbledon has held firm to tradition for long, Henman acknowledged there was no realistic alternative.

“You know, every event on the ATP Tour will have an electronic line calling this year,” he said. “So if Wimbledon were to have taken the decision to say, ‘Oh no, we’re actually going to keep line judges,’ I think that would have looked very bizarre, ” he said.

Henman also shared his thoughts on Novak Djokovic, saying he thinks Wimbledon 2025 gives the Serb the best shot at winning his 25th major tennis championship.

Tim Henman believes Novak Djokovic’s best shot at 25th major tennis championship is at Wimbledon 2025

Novak Djokovic stands on the brink of history. His seven Wimbledon titles tie him with Pete Sampras. Carlos Alcaraz defeated him in a gripping final last year, preventing him from winning an eighth title. The defeat left him trailing only Roger Federer, whose eight Wimbledon crowns remain the benchmark!

But time—and injury—are catching up. Lately, physical setbacks, starting last year at the French Open quarterfinals when he withdrew, have overcome the 37-year-old Serb’s dominance. Then it lingered through the US Open, where he suffered an early exit to Alexei Popyrin. For the first time since 2017, Djokovic ended a season without a Grand Slam title.  His 2025 Australian Open campaign also ended in abrupt fashion, as he lasted just one set in the semifinals against Alexander Zverev because of a torn left leg muscle.

Yet, Wimbledon offers hope. Tim Henman believes that Djokovic’s best shot at an elusive 25th major is at All England Club.

“I think Wimbledon is his best shot to win a 25th Grand Slam,” Henman said. “He made the final last year on the back of knee surgery. And I think it’s a combination of his confidence and understanding of grass-court tennis, and there perhaps being fewer other players who are comfortable on grass,” he remarked.

Djokovic, who tore a muscle in his left leg during his Australian Open quarterfinal against Carlos Alcaraz and limped through a semifinal loss to Alexander Zverev, has received encouraging news.

According to Serbian outlet Sportal, medical scans show the injury is less severe than initially feared, and after intensive therapy in Belgrade, Djokovic has received clearance to resume training within days. Do you think he will be back with a bang soon?