Coco Gauff Beats the Clock at Wimbledon to Uphold Tradition

Pulse Sports Team 16:39 - 06 July 2026

Unbreakable rules define the All England Club's tradition, and British punctuality is one of them. Not a second past curfew to avoid disturbing the neighbors.

American phenom Coco Gauff kept her Wimbledon title dreams alive, battling Swiss Belinda Bencic in a dramatic race against the clock. The match, which began at a record-late 8:40 PM, concluded with Gauff securing a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory just two minutes before the 11:00 PM curfew.

With this hard-fought win, the seventh seed advances to her first-ever Wimbledon quarter-final, where she will face compatriot Jessica Pegula for a spot in the semi-finals.

Tradition Reigns Supreme

Wimbledon stands as a unique tennis tournament, proudly upholding the charm and strict rules that define the All England Club. These traditions are sacrosanct on the London grass, with exceptions rarely made. One such rare allowance permits female players to wear colored undershorts during their menstrual cycle; otherwise, it's white from head to toe—including footwear—for both men and women. Or rather, gentlemen and ladies, as players are always addressed, whether on scoreboards, trophies, the official website, or the champions' wall. In London, there's no music on court, and overt advertisements are replaced by discreet plaques bearing the names of official partners, maintaining an uncluttered aesthetic. Before leaving, and never after 11 PM to avoid disturbing neighbors, one must savor the strawberries and cream—eight strawberries costing around 3 euros.

Despite a shaky start, marked by nine double faults, five of which occurred in a single game during the first set, Gauff showcased immense power and maintained her composure to clinch the win. The match, played under the closed roof, ended at 10:58 PM with an unreturnable serve from the American.

"I'm super happy to finally be in the quarterfinals," Gauff stated after the match, admitting she was acutely aware of the time. "In the last service game, I looked at the clock. Honestly, at that match point, I was going to serve and volley to finish it. This was probably my most dramatic match. I'm not used to racing against the clock."

The tennis star also considered the victory a significant milestone in her career. "It's a big achievement for me, my first time in the quarterfinals. [...] I knew I had to focus on the tennis I've been playing. Even though it was a tough match, I feel like it was my best match so far in the tournament," she added.

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