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Has the time come for the US Open to rethink its scheduling of matches?
Carlos Alcaraz (front) and Ben Shelton embrace after the end of their quarterfinal match. (AP Photo)
Four hours and 28 minutes.
That’s now long the US Open 2026 epic men’s singles quarterfinal clash lasted between defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and winner Ben Shelton. The crowd was thrilled, the two players soaked in the atmosphere before coming to terms with the reality that they have to start heading home/hotel rooms at 3:34 am!
The late finish set a new milestone for the latest finish in the 145-year history of the US Open.
The marathon encounter isn’t an anomaly.
It was the latest in a series of matches that have stretched deep into the night at Flushing Meadows and it has triggered renewed calls for changes to the tournament’s scheduling.
There are even proposals to shorten matches.
A Growing Challenge
Late finishes are hardly unfamiliar at the US Open. In 2022, Alcaraz, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, was also involved in the previous record, battling Jannik Sinner until 2.50 am. However, this year’s tournament has taken the issue to another level.
Four matches so far have finished after 2:00 am, while several other sessions have continued beyond 1:00 am.
Shelton and Alcaraz did not even begin their quarter-final until after 11:00 pm on Tuesday.
Venus Williams’ first-round defeat by Sofia Kenin in women’s singles event began after midnight and eventually ended shortly after 2:00 am.
The late finishes have led to concerns about the impact on players, as well as the experience for spectators and the wider demands placed on a tournament that relies heavily on its famous night sessions.
Navratilova Wants Change
US tennis great Martina Navratilova is among the strongest voices calling for a change. Responding to a post on X on Tuesday, Navratilova argued that the scheduling had reached a point where action was needed.
“Something has got to give,” Navratilova wrote. “This is not ok and it is not normal.”
Something has got to give… this is not ok and it is not normal … no other sport might start at 11 AM or 11 PM. In the same event…— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) September 9, 2026
She had already raised concerns about the format of the evening sessions earlier in the tournament, suggesting that the US Open should schedule just one men’s or women’s singles match alongside a doubles tie.
The tournament currently generally puts both a men’s and women’s singles match on Arthur Ashe Stadium during its prime-time night session. However, this approach can create a scheduling domino effect when the opening match becomes a lengthy contest.
“I think they need to fix the night session. It’s too late,” said Navratilova. “I think they should play men’s singles and then maybe a doubles match. If you do women’s singles you can still have another doubles match, or another women’s singles. You’ll still get four sets of play minimum.”
“Even if you put the women’s match on first and it’s three sets, the guys start by 10pm. If a men’s match goes five sets, you start at midnight. You’re never on the court at midnight and you never start a match at midnight, so it’s counterproductive for everybody, spectators and the players,” she added.
A Scheduling Safety Net
While admitting thar the tournament’s night sessions are a major part of its identity and commercial appeal, former British tennis star Tim Henman suggests that organisers could introduce a safeguard allowing matches to be moved to another court if they have not begun by a predetermined time.
“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,” Henman said.
“So, for me, we need night sessions, they’re iconic for this event. But also, I think there should be sort of almost protected start times. If you have a women’s match first, and if the men’s match hasn’t gone on by 9:30, or 10 o’clock, then vice versa, if the men’s match goes first, if that is going to be a long four, five-setter, then perhaps the women’s match moves elsewhere,” he added.
This will allow US Open to preserve its headline night sessions while reducing the likelihood of a second singles match being pushed towards midnight.
Shorter Tennis Matches?
Some feel that scheduling changes alone may not be enough.
A radical idea involves reducing the length of matches, especially at Grand Slams.
Andrew Abdo, chief executive of the organisation that runs the Australian Open, thinks that Grand Slams could eventually consider changing men’s early-round matches from best-of-five sets to best-of-three.
Tiafoe Cites History
For Frances Tiafoe, however, shortening men’s Grand Slam matches would come at the cost of one of the sport’s defining traditions.
The US Open semi-finalist admits that five-set matches are not always enjoyable for the players involved but remain an essential part of tennis.
“Do I love five-setters? Absolutely not,” Tiafoe said. “But it’s tennis, man. I grew up watching so many incredible five-setters. Novak-Rafa, Federer-Rafa, epic five-setters that go on for hours and hours. That’s the history of the game.”
The debate therefore leaves the US Open facing a difficult balancing act.
With AFP Inputs
Quick Answers
Ask News18The 2026 US Open men’s singles quarterfinal between Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton set a new record for the latest finish in the tournament’s 145-year history, concluding at 3:34 am. The match lasted four hours and 28 minutes.
Ask News18About the Author
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience …Read More
September 10, 2026, 11:30 AM IST
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