Carlos Alcaraz Voices Frustration Over 3:30 a.m. US Open Finish
Carlos Alcaraz Criticizes Late US Open Match Finish
During a press event in London, Carlos Alcaraz openly expressed his frustration about the timing of his quarterfinal match at the US Open. The intense contest against Ben Shelton stretched into the early hours, ending at 3:33 a.m., setting a new record for the latest finish in US Open history.
This marathon match surpassed the previous record of 2:50 a.m., which was held by Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner from 2022. The late finish meant players left the court around 4:30 a.m., then returned to their hotels, delaying rest until nearly 7 a.m. According to Alcaraz, this affects recovery and gives an advantage to the next opponent who may have had more rest.
Match Details and Scheduling Issues
The quarterfinal was a gripping five-set battle that saw Shelton topple the former World No. 1. Scheduling delays earlier that day caused the match to start around 8:20 p.m., more than an hour behind schedule. Alcaraz lamented that such a thrilling match missed out on a bigger live audience because many fans had to leave early due to work or sleep commitments.
He noted, "If the match had started at 7 or 8 p.m., finishing by 11 p.m., the stadium would have been full. Many people missed it because of the late timing." Despite this, ESPN still drew an average of 1.3 million viewers during the match.
Responses from Officials
Craig Tiley, USTA director, responded to concerns about late finishes in an interview with Sky Sports. He acknowledged complaints but challenged critics to suggest alternatives, emphasizing the unpredictable length of matches as a factor beyond control.
Image Descriptions
- Image 1: Carlos Alcaraz speaking into a microphone at a press conference.
- Image 2: Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton smiling on a tennis court at the US Open.
- Image 3: Carlos Alcaraz wiping his face during a match.
