London — Wimbledon has slapped down Chris Evert’s suggestion that the women’s final should replace the men’s title match in closing the championships. Evert, 63, who won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, including three at Wimbledon, said the women’s final could close the show at the All England Club, saying the current set-up, with the men’s final always on the last day, was "definitely not equal". But Wimbledon CE Richard Lewis said on Monday the schedule would not budge. The men’s champion opens proceedings on Centre Court on the first Monday, with the women’s champion up first on the 15,000-seater show court on Tuesday. The women’s final is played on the second Saturday, with the men’s final the following day. Evert told The Times newspaper the tradition of having the men’s final close the championships was a throwback to a time when women were "second-class citizens". "I think it could change. In a lot of ways, it’s a mirror of the world. It’s still a man’s world," the American sai...
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