US Open: As Venus Williams falls in a match that ends at 2 a.m., the sport must examine its scheduling problem

In a dramatic turn, Venus Williams suffered a 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) loss to Sofia Kenin in the first round of the US Open early Monday morning, falling to a 0-12 record for the year. The 46-year-old Williams, who won the tournament in 2000 and 2001, lost the match after playing after midnight, ending at 2 a.m. ET. She described the situation as "unserious" and called for an end to her comeback.

While Williams-Kenin were the only players in the night session, the tournament's scheduling problem continues to affect fans and players alike. Tennis matches, which have no fixed clock, can last anywhere from 45 minutes to several hours, straining spectators and officials. The US Open's night session, which includes a men's and women's match, has been criticized for its late schedules, with matches often starting after midnight and finishing past 2 a.m. Despite the obvious issues, the sport has yet to find a solution, leaving fans to wonder what the point is of a goodbye match when most of the country is already asleep.