Andy Murray has slammed tennis’ scheduling as “amateurish” after multiple US Open matches concluded in the early hours, highlighting the adverse impact on players’ health and recovery.
Andy Murray has criticized tennis’ scheduling, describing it as “amateurish” and a “total mess” after recent matches at the US Open concluded in the early hours of the morning. The latest example came when Qinwen Zheng defeated Donna Vekic in a fourth-round match that ended at 2:15 a.m. local time. Similarly, Alexander Zverev’s third-round win over Tomas Martin Etcheverry stretched to 2:35 a.m., just shy of the record set by Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in their 2022 US Open quarterfinal, which finished at 2:50 a.m.
Murray, who retired after a distinguished career featuring three Grand Slam titles, has been a vocal critic of the scheduling issues in tennis. He highlighted the adverse effects of these late-night matches on players’ health and recovery, urging major tournaments and governing bodies to address the problem.
Murray’s frustration is rooted in his own experiences with late finishes. Notably, his second-round match against Thanasi Kokkinakis at the 2023 Australian Open lasted five hours and 45 minutes, ending at 4:05 a.m. Such marathon matches are not uncommon, with Lleyton Hewitt’s 2008 Australian Open match against Marcos Baghdatis ending at 4:34 a.m. and Zverev’s 2022 victory over Jenson Brooksby at the Abierto Mexico concluding at 4:55 a.m.
The frequency of these late-night conclusions raises concerns about player welfare and the sport’s image. Murray’s call for action reflects a broader sentiment among players and fans that the current scheduling practices need reform to prevent matches from dragging on into the early morning hours, ensuring better conditions for athletes and a more viewer-friendly experience.
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