Empty seats, tired stars: The US Open’s post-2 a.m. finishes spark a pushback

New York (AP) — Players at the U.S. Open are growing weary of playing matches that extend past 2 a.m. This year, the tournament has witnessed three post-2 a.m. finishes in the first six days, raising concerns about the impact on players and the audience. With empty seats filling the courts, top-seeded Alexander Zverev expressed frustration during his post-match press conference, stating that everyone is "tired" and wants to go to sleep.

Jessica Pegula, the third-ranked women's player, echoed these sentiments, questioning whether it's fair for players to finish at 2 a.m. when many fans need to leave. Wimbledon and the French Open have implemented curfews, while the U.S. Open's extended match times have become the norm, but some players feel the timing is too late, especially for those who don't watch matches on television.