Carlos Alcaraz has requested changes to the scheduling at the US Open following his late-night quarter-final match against Ben Shelton. The match, which began after 11 PM and concluded at 3:33 AM, marked the latest finish in the tournament's history.
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Despite the late hour, Alcaraz left the court smiling after a hard-fought five-set battle, but he expressed his concern about the timing. In an interview with BBC Sport, he stated, "I think it’s too much. The last match people stayed but if that match was played earlier, the court could have been packed. I would like to change the schedule a little with a maximum finish at 11 PM or whatever would be better."
Alcaraz described the match as a thrilling experience, saying, "The quarter-final was great – it was a gift for me. I suffered, but I enjoyed and that’s why I smiled when I walked out of the court because I missed that feeling."
While the match was considered one of the highlights of the tournament, the stadium was notably half-empty by the time Shelton secured his victory. Alcaraz's suggestion for a curfew echoes Wimbledon’s practice of ending matches by 11 PM, a rule in place to accommodate local residents traveling home.
However, officials from the U.S. Tennis Association are skeptical about implementing a similar policy. USTA CEO Craig Tiley noted that while many fans feel matches finish too late, he encourages constructive feedback rather than just criticism. He stated, "I hear from a lot of people that it finishes too late and then I say, okay, and your suggestion is? I don’t get anything. You can’t control the length of the match."
Tiley acknowledged that no one wants matches to conclude at 3:30 AM, but emphasized that the event's excitement is reflected in the matches that captivate audiences around the world.