In the world of professional tennis, the issue of match timing has been a persistent thorn in the side of players throughout 2023. Recently, Alexander Zverev, a prominent figure in the sport, has added his voice to the growing chorus of discontented players expressing frustration with tennis authorities over this ongoing problem.
Zverev’s recent victory at the China Open in Beijing, where he defeated Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina with a score of 6-7 (4) 6-2 6-1, was marred by a peculiar circumstance: the match did not begin until well past midnight and concluded at an astonishing 2.40 am local time. Understandably, Zverev did not hold back in his post-match criticism.
“Obviously, it’s difficult to play until 3:00 am. I’m not convinced it was the right decision to keep us on this court,” he asserted. “I believe we should have changed courts. There were numerous excellent courts in the stadium, many opportunities where we could have played. Waiting until past midnight to start the match doesn’t seem like the right choice, to be honest.”
This incident isn’t the first time Zverev has raised concerns about late match starts. He previously voiced his dissatisfaction during the Madrid Open last year when his late semi-final match resulted in a 4 am bedtime. His subsequent final against Carlos Alcaraz saw Zverev suffer a heavy loss, and he didn’t shy away from criticizing tournament organizers.
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“The ATP’s handling of the situation was an absolute disgrace this week,” Zverev remarked. “Playing a final against Carlos Alcaraz, who, in my opinion, is the best player in the world right now, in a Masters 1000 event… It is challenging. I had no coordination. My serve was off, my groundstrokes were erratic.”
The problem of late match finishes has been a recurring theme throughout 2023. Tournament organizers often prioritize maximizing television coverage by scheduling top players on courts with full broadcasting capabilities. This pursuit of visibility has led to numerous matches stretching well into the early hours of the morning.
One notable example was Andy Murray’s match against Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Australian Open in January. Murray, who had already fought for nearly five hours in his first-round match, eventually secured a victory after a grueling five-hour and 45-minute battle. This match became the longest of Murray’s career, the second longest in the tournament’s history, and the third latest finish to a tennis match ever.
Murray expressed his thoughts on the matter, saying, “I’m not sure who benefits from this… It’s not beneficial for the players, the officials, or even the fans. Some people have to work the following day, and sending ball kids home at five in the morning, as a parent, is less than ideal.”
The issue extends to the WTA Tour as well, with players like Elena Rybakina questioning why they are required to compete in matches that conclude well after midnight.
Players are united in their belief that tennis authorities must urgently address this problem. However, it appears that there is a lack of enthusiasm from the sport’s governing bodies to address these concerns, leaving players and fans to endure these late-night marathons. The question remains: how much longer will the tennis world continue to disregard the plea for more reasonable match timings?
