Carlos Alcaraz has called on tennis chiefs to “do something” about drastically late finishes after his US Open campaign ended at 3.33am earlier this month. Speaking in London ahead of the Laver Cup, the world No.3 said the current scheduling places an unfair burden on players and prevents fans from watching matches to the end.
Record-breaking late finish at Flushing Meadows
Alcaraz returned from a four-and-a-half-month injury layoff at Flushing Meadows, where he reached the quarter-finals and lost to Ben Shelton in a five-set thriller that finished in the early hours. The match shattered the previous record for the latest finish at the US Open, which stood at 2.50am — a match Alcaraz also played, beating Jannik Sinner in the 2022 quarter-finals.
Despite losing to Shelton, the seven-time Major champion was all smiles as he left Arthur Ashe Stadium at close to 4am, but he made clear the late finishes must be addressed.
Impact on fans and players
“Yeah, 100 per cent [something should be done],” Alcaraz said. “It is a shame that a match like this couldn’t reach a lot of people because they had to go to bed. Because they have to work the next day’s morning.
“So we could see at the beginning of the match it was packed and then in the fourth set, fifth set, a lot of people stayed, which was great. But it is a shame those people had to leave because of the time.”
Alcaraz also detailed the physical toll on players: “For an athlete finishing at 3.30am, it means we had to leave the courts on site at 4.30am almost. Then getting back to the hotel. You don’t get to bed until like 6.30am or 7am.
“For an athlete to recover for the next match, it’s okay you have a day, but for the next match it’s like the other plays with an advantage. I think it’s too much. They have got to do something. I am not saying 3.30am but finishing at 12am, it is too late already.”
Positives from return
While unhappy with the timing of his US Open exit, the 23-year-old took encouragement from his first tournament in almost five months after a wrist injury sidelined him. “It was the first tournament after five months. I think I did a great tournament,” he said. “Three great matches. Well, four great matches. Bad luck the last one. I just came there to compete, to see where is my level, try to leave the tournament healthy.
“I came back home healthy. No pain at all in my body. So I could do a great preparation, good training back home. I know I have really important tournaments ahead of me. Tournaments that I really want to win at least once.
“If we see the record for me the last part of the season it has never been my good point. But hopefully, right now, I am fresh mentally. Physically, I am feeling great. Hopefully I will do a great tournament and try to find my good tennis again sooner.”
