Late matches at US Open revive debate over New York night sessions

Venus Williams had played professional tennis for 32 years, but even she had never experienced a start as late as the one at this year’s US Open. Her first-round match began 13 minutes after midnight and ended at 2:01 a.m.

“This is not ideal, I would have wished for it to be different,” the 46-year-old said afterward. Her experience reflected a broader pattern at the New York Grand Slam. Three matches finished after 2 a.m. during the first week, a record number, while two more ended after 1 a.m. The Associated Press wrote that the city that never sleeps was going too far this year.

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This is not ideal, I would have wished for it to be different.

The evening session begins at 7 p.m. local time in Arthur Ashe Stadium, where organizers schedule two matches one after another, usually one women’s match and one men’s match. The Louis Armstrong Stadium also hosts two evening matches during the first week.

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This is not sustainable.

Critics say the schedule is damaging players’ recovery. “This is not sustainable,” Martina Navratilova wrote on X after seeing the late match times. Boris Becker replied: “It is simply too late to play tennis... name another sport where this happens?!?” Players including Alexander Zverev have said they sometimes do not settle down until 5 or 6 a.m. after matches. “It throws the whole rhythm out of balance,” Germany’s men’s coach Michael Kohlmann said.

Late finishes can also leave the nearly 24,000-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium with largely empty stands. Spectators leave for the subway or parking lot after midnight. World No. 3 Jessica Pegula said she no longer watches the matches on television at that hour because she sleeps. After winning a second-round match with a match point at 2:15 a.m., Zverev thanked those who remained, saying they made up for the 15,000 who had left.

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It is simply too late to play tennis... name another sport where this happens?!?

The schedule remains financially attractive. Night sessions allow organizers to sell a second round of tickets for the same stadium each day after afternoon spectators leave. Ticket revenue recently reached $208 million, one-third of the US Tennis Association’s total annual income. The format also includes one women’s match in the evening, an argument linked to gender equality.

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It throws the whole rhythm out of balance.