Does Wimbledon have a problem with women?

“I don’t think anyone’s suggesting it is fair” – Andy Murray on the disparity between men’s and women’s matches on Centre Court.

Over the past couple of weeks Wimbledon has faced scrutiny over its decision to prioritise men’s singles matches over women’s on its two show courts. The general rule is that, during the first seven days of the tournament, there are two men’s matches on Centre and No.1 Court, and one women’s.

In many respects this scheduling makes sense.

If the match equation was flipped – two Women’s matches to one Men’s with a start time of 1pm – there is every chance that play on the showpiece courts could be concluded by 6pm, thus robbing the crowd (and TV audience) of one of Wimbledon’s great traditions: the twilight battle. That is not just a battle between opponents, but a battle with nature itself as darkness descends across the club and players try desperately to finish a match while the light conditions hold.

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But while the club’s policies on match scheduling is vaguely defendable, it is guilty of a gender bias that is not: its approach to officialdom.

Wimbledon is the only major tournament not to have had a woman umpire the men’s final in the open era. Inexplicably, it is also the only major tournament where women do not umpire men’s singles matches in the second week of the event.

That is indefensible.

Needless to say, there are plenty of male umpires who will officiate in women’s singles matches all the way through the tournament. To an extent that makes logistical sense: the ratio of top-flight male umpires to female is roughly 2:1.

But the dogged refusal to assign female umpires to men’s singles matches in week two makes no sense whatsoever.

There are at least two female umpires working at Wimbledon this year who are as highly-regarded in their profession as any one of their male counterparts: Eva Asderaki Moore and Marija Cicak. It should be noted that Alison Hughes, who is also one of the top umpires in the world, is not officiating at this tournament.

That these women will not be invited to officiate any men’s singles matches from the Last 16 onwards (if the last six years of umpiring assignments is anything to go by) is a stain on The Championships.

It either infers that The Club does not deem women capable of umpiring its high-profile men’s matches, or that they are running a ‘boy’s club’ when it comes to week two match assignments.

In either case, it is a sorry look for the sport’s most prestigious event.

It also shines a spotlight on the tournament’s failings when it comes to gender equality.

Tennis prides itself on being the only major sport that awards equal prize money to men and women. However, true equality is not achieved simply by throwing money at an issue. Rather, it is realised when skill and ability – and the rewards these afford – are recognised regardless of gender.

When it comes to its attitude towards female officialdom Wimbledon falls woefully short in this matter. To make things worse, it does so for no other reason than straight gender bias. In this day and age, and with the professionals of both sexes that it has at its disposal, that is nothing short of outrageous.