“Total chaos”: Criticism of night games at the US Open

Strongly criticizes the tennis night games: former professional Andy Murray
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Jannik Sinner was able to celebrate his entry into the quarterfinals of the US Open shortly before midnight and described the atmosphere as “great”. But the enthusiasm wanes when the matches go on well into the night, as in the case of China’s Qinwen Zheng, who only finished her match at 2:15 a.m. – a record for the latest women’s match in the history of the US Open. By this time, the stands had already emptied, with only a few hundred spectators still following the action.

Zverev with second-latest game in tournament history

Although US Open organizers introduced a new rule this year to prevent extremely late matches, the measure appears to have had no effect. Instead of ending matches earlier, Alexander Zverev’s third-round match reached an end at 2:35 a.m. – the second latest in tournament history.

The adjustment allows games that have not started by 11:15 p.m. to be moved to another venue. However, this rule has not been applied so far, with top players like Aryna Sabalenka insisting on her scheduled spot at Arthur Ashe Stadium, even if it meant her match would not start until after midnight.

Former players and union criticize

Criticism of these next marathon matches is growing. Former world-class player Andy Murray described the current match schedule as “total chaos” and called on tennis organizations and Grand Slam organizers to find a solution. “It looks so amateurish when matches go on until two, three, four in the morning,” complained the Briton, who recently retired from professional tennis.

The players’ union PTPA, represented by Romain Rosenberg, is also calling for more predictability and an earlier decision on changing courts. According to the PTPA, the number of night games at Grand Slam tournaments has doubled since 2018. In addition, the risk of injury in late games increases by 25 percent. “The health of the players must be given more focus,” warned Rosenberg, emphasizing the physical and mental exhaustion that comes with the long nights.

The players in conflict

While some players like Alexander Zverev appreciate the special atmosphere of the late games, doubts also arise. “I don’t need any more records,” joked the Hamburg native after his night shift at the US Open.

However, he sees little room for maneuver for the tournament organizers: “Perhaps the night sessions could start earlier, but you have no control over that. The matches before were long, so you can’t blame anyone.”

The organizers of the US Open defend the late playing times. They point to the difficulty New York spectators have in getting to the Queens facility after work by 7 p.m. when the night session begins. They also emphasize that, unlike other Grand Slam tournaments such as the French Open, the US Open places value on gender equality in the scheduling of matches.

“It’s part of the appeal. It’s something our fans love,” said Lew Sherr, CEO of the US association. He is referring to New York’s famous motto: “It’s the city that never sleeps” – and that also applies to tennis at the US Open. But whether this appeal is enough to appease the increasingly loud criticism remains to be seen.