LONDON – Carlos Alcaraz has expressed his frustration with the late-night finishes at Grand Slam tournaments, advocating for matches to conclude by 11pm. This follows his recent exit at the US Open, where he lost to American Ben Shelton in a match that finished at an unprecedented 3:33am on September 9, 2023.
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During the first week of the tournament, three matches also ended after 2am, with two others running past midnight. Notably, Venus Williams participated in a match that started at 12:13am. Alcaraz, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, stated, "I think it’s too much," during a press conference on September 25 ahead of the Laver Cup. He added that if matches finished earlier, crowds could be larger and more engaged.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA), which oversees the US Open, has not yet responded to requests for comments on potential scheduling changes, although it has indicated a willingness to evaluate options in the future. Other Grand Slam tournaments have already taken steps to prevent late finishes, with Wimbledon enforcing an 11pm curfew and the French Open limiting night sessions to just one match.
The issue of late finishes is part of a broader discussion about player working conditions, including the congested tennis calendar.
Andre Agassi, captain of Team World at the Laver Cup, emphasized the need for guaranteed downtime in players' schedules at the end of the season. He remarked, "It would be my hope for an off-season of some relative form of security for both the players and the fans."
Regarding the Laver Cup itself, Agassi praised the event's significance, stating he does not believe it should be compromised. "I’d hate to see the compromise ever come on an event like this... I would like to see these awesome athletes always be at their best. I think everybody wins with that," he concluded.