'Not normal' US Open scheduling under-fire after late-night finishes
Ben Shelton's record-breaking late-night victory over Carlos Alcaraz has reignited the debate over scheduling at the US Open, where a flurry of finishes in the early hours have prompted calls for a curfew or radical demands for shorter matches.While late-night finishes at Flushing Meadows are nothing new -- in 2022 Alcaraz himself battled Jannik Sinner until 2.50 am in the previous latest finish…
The US Open is facing criticism over its late-night match scheduling, with Ben Shelton's 4-hour 28-minute quarter-final win over Carlos Alcaraz setting a new tournament record. This late finish, along with several others throughout the tournament, has sparked calls for a curfew or shorter matches. Since 2022, Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner until 2:50 am, making this year's tournament the latest for late-night finishes.
Venus Williams' first-round loss to Sofia Kenin also didn't start until after midnight, while many other matches went on past 1:00 am. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova expressed her disapproval, suggesting the scheduling is no longer acceptable. Former British tennis star Tim Henman proposed introducing protected start times to mitigate the impact of late-night matches.
However, some commentators have even suggested reducing match lengths, abolishing the six-game set system in favor of five-game sets. Despite the debate, some players, like Frances Tiafoe, advocate for maintaining the traditional five-set matches, emphasizing the rich history of the game.
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Also reported by 1 other outlet
- U.S. Open organizers facing fresh scrutiny over late-night finishes japantimes.co.jp
