The US Open is known for its thrilling surprises, but this time, there’s a bit of a letdown for tennis fans. As the tournament heats up and the third round looms, everyone’s eager for some electrifying matchups. However, the buzz around the much-anticipated All-American clash between Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe has taken an unexpected turn. A recent scheduling decision has left fans feeling disappointed. 

Shelton and Tiafoe are scheduled to face each other at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday. Interestingly, the match will take place soon after the battle between Coco Gauff and Elina Svitolina. If conditions remain apt, the ATP stars would be playing somewhere around 2 PM under the sun. However, the fans seemed to be dismayed by the decision and were expecting a prime time for the match. 

Sharing the schedule on X, one user wrote, “Shelton-Tiafoe was given the day match for Friday 🤔 Hmm….” This post quickly gained traction with many users expressing their anger. Interestingly, the match between Shelton and Tiafoe is the only match on Friday in which both the players are ranked 20 or below in the ranking table. 

However, the US Open organizers decided to keep the star players away from the prime time, which led to immense flak for them on social media. 

‘So Bad’- Fans lash out at US Open organizers

Taking to X, one user slammed the US Open organizers and wrote, “That deserves to be at Ashe during prime time.” Interestingly, both Shelton and Tiafoe have demonstrated sensational performance lately. Besides, Tiafoe is fresh off his runner-up trophy at the Cincinnati Masters. Adding to their achievements is their nationality, which could have easily excited the home crowd for the match. However, the organizers seem to be of a different perspective. The series of flak continued.

Responding to the post, one user wrote, “Should be swapped with the Saba match wtf.” Remember, Aryna Sabalenka is scheduled to face Ekaterina Alexandrova at around 9 PM, which will also be the last match for the day. While Sabalenka is placed at No. 2 in the rankings, her opponent stands at 29, which makes it difficult for the fans to digest the schedule of their match. But interestingly, a majority of tennis enthusiasts demanded prime-time scheduling during the French Open. While the same is realized at Flushing Meadows, the fans seem to be unhappy. 

One more user joined in the fray and claimed that the organizers were biased towards Novak Djokovic. “Everything to give night session to Djokovic,” the user wrote. The Serbian Maestro will take over Alexei Popyrin at around 7 PM at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Fans believe that the match could have been scheduled at a different time. However, the stature of Djokovic which comes from his 24-Grand Slam titles and one Olympic Gold make him a suitable player to be placed during the prime-time. Several others joined to express similar emotions. 

“This changes the entire vibe of the match. I have my winner picked but wow, what a miss to have this on Friday prime time,” another user wrote. The US Open has been facing adverse weather conditions this year, with temperatures soaring high up to 94 degrees Fahrenheit. While it would be difficult for players to play in such scorching heat, it would also make it annoying for fans to witness a match in such conditions. Besides, the timing could clash with other commitments of several enthusiasts, especially because it has been scheduled on a weekday.

Another user simply wrote, “Sooo bad omg,” and slammed the decision of the organizers. As the series of flak continues, it would be interesting to see if any formal justification is released from the organizers. While only time will clarify the winner, what remains certain is an exhilarating showdown.