Alcaraz calls for end to late-night finishes at Grand Slams

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz has expressed his frustration with late-night finishes at Grand Slam tournaments. In the wake of his US Open title defence being ended in a late finish, Alcaraz has called for the schedule to be changed to allow matches to conclude by 11pm. This sentiment comes after several matches at the US Open extended well past midnight, with Venus Williams involved in the most recent clash that started at 12.13am.

Alcaraz believes that playing matches earlier would ensure larger crowds, as the last match that people stayed for ended too late. He has urged the organizers to reconsider the current schedule, with a maximum finish time of 11pm being his preference. The US Tennis Association, which organizes the US Open, has not yet commented on the matter.

Other Grand Slam tournaments have taken steps to address late finishes, with Wimbledon implementing an 11pm local curfew and the French Open limiting night sessions to just one match. The issue has gained momentum as top players voice concerns about working conditions, including a packed competitive calendar. Andre Agassi, captain of Team World at the Laver Cup, emphasized the need for guaranteed downtime for players at the end of the season.

He expressed his hope for players to have some form of security, so they look forward to the game. Agassi also praised the Laver Cup as a fantastic event, stating that he wouldn't want any compromise on such a prestigious event.