Wimbledon schedules British wildcard Arthur Fery’s men’s singles semi-final against Alexander Zverev to be played first on Centre Court on Friday. The match is set to start at 1.30pm, rather than the later second semi-final session that is expected to begin around 5pm. Multiple reports attribute the earlier start time to BBC-led efforts to avoid a clash with World Cup coverage. As a result, viewers who plan to watch during work hours may need to adjust their schedules to catch the match. The decision also determines the order of play on Centre Court, with Fery and Zverev taking the earliest slot. The scheduling change is framed as significant because it affects the timing for a high-profile British contender reaching a Wimbledon semi-final. The outlets agree on the key points: the opponent, the court placement as the first match, and the 1.30pm start time, alongside the stated World Cup scheduling consideration.