Full Breakdown
Late-Night Finishes Push US Open Scheduling Into Spotlight
By Drooid · · How we work
Record-Breaking Late-Night Matches
The men’s quarter-final between Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz ended at 3:33 a.m. Eastern Time, the latest finish in the tournament’s 145-year history. The four-hour-28-minute match began at 11:05 p.m. after earlier five-setters delayed the night session. Alexander Zverev has also seen three of his five matches finish after 1 a.m., with bedtimes as late as 6:45 a.m. in the past week.
Background & Context
Flushing Meadows runs two nightly sessions with no evening curfew, allowing matches to continue into the early morning. This differs from Wimbledon’s 11 p.m. curfew and the French Open’s single night match. The US Open’s schedule is shaped by broadcast commitments that prioritize “prime-time” slots on Arthur Ashe Stadium, often pushing later matches onto the same court when earlier contests run long.
Data & Statistics
- Four matches this tournament have ended after 2 a.m.
- Several matches have finished past 1 a.m., including Zverev’s first-round five-setters (1:55 a.m. and 2:15 a.m.).
- Shelton–Alcaraz started at 11:05 p.m. and finished at 3:33 a.m.
- Zverev’s three post-1 a.m. finishes make him the first top-seeded man in the Open era to open a major with back-to-back five-setters.
Official Statements & Responses
No formal response from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) or tournament organizers has been reported.
Criticism & Opposition
Former world No. 1 Martina Navratilova said the night session “has reached a tipping point” and urged the US Open to limit evening programming. Jessica Pegula questioned the appropriateness of players finishing at 2 a.m., noting the strain on athletes. Venus Williams called a 2 a.m. start “extremely late” and “not ideal.” Former British player Tim Henman suggested moving matches to other courts when sessions run late, while acknowledging the financial importance of night sessions.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I've been to bed as late as 6:45am in the past week so I'm kind of a bit jet-lagged,” — Alexander Zverev
- “I think they need to fix the night session. It’s too late,” — Martina Navratilova
- “It’s hard. It is not ideal as a professional athlete when you’re playing at that time, but if you look at it from a tournament’s point of view, it’s a massive part of their business model to have those two sessions, to sell, you know, tickets here on Ashe,” — Tim Henman
- “You have to wonder if it's really the right thing for players to be finishing at 2am,” — Jessica Pegula
- “I’ve never played a match that late before.” — Venus Williams
What’s Next
The semi-final lineup now includes Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Alexander Zverev, and Karen Khachanov. Their upcoming matches will test whether the current scheduling model can accommodate recovery needs without further late-night overruns.
