Carlos Alcaraz Calls for Change to Late-Night Matches at Grand Slams

While Wimbledon has a cut-off time of 11 PM for matches, neither the US Open, French Open, nor Australian Open impose such restrictions, leading to frequent late finishes. For context, Novak Djokovic's match against Lorenzo Musetti in 2024 ended at 3:07 AM in Paris. Alcaraz, a seven-time Grand Slam winner, highlighted the toll these late hours take on players, saying, "For an athlete finishing at 3:30 in the morning, it means we had to leave the courts at 4:30, then back to the hotel. You don't go to bed until 6:30 or 7 in the morning. To recover for the next match, the person you play has an advantage."

He emphasized the necessity for reform, stating that finishing by midnight is already too late. The 23-year-old described feeling both physically and mentally drained after his first tournament back from a wrist injury. He expressed concern that matches ending late deter fans from attending and reduce television viewership, saying, "It is a shame a match like this didn't reach a lot of people because they have to go to bed, they have to work in the morning."

Alcaraz proposed that matches should start earlier to allow for prompt finishes, suggesting that starting at 7 or 8 PM would result in a fuller stadium. There have been discussions within the tennis community on how to address the issue of late finishes, including proposals to change Grand Slam matches to a three-set format instead of the current best-of-five format. Djokovic has suggested shortening the sets, but former player Andre Agassi defended the traditional five-set format, arguing that it distinguishes Grand Slam victories from regular tournaments. Agassi noted, "I absolutely believe we should have it (five sets). I believe it's possible to get lucky and win two out of three. I don't think you can get lucky and win three out of five." He cautioned against reforming the structure in a way that might diminish the legacy of the sport.