‘Going to Spend Our First Night Together’ – ESPN Analysts Engage in Cheeky Banter as Australian Open Scripts Twilight History

Daniil Medvedev can finally catch a breather, can’t he? After being a set away from the Australian Open exit, the former World Number 1 survived a scare to reach the third round. His match went late into the night and kept everyone on the edge of their seats. While the Russian star was two sets to love down, Pam Shriver made a bizarre comment.

Shriver, along with her compatriot, James Blake, is commentating for ESPN for the Australian Open. When Medvedev’s opponent, Emil Ruusuvuori, won the second set, it was already quite late after midnight. This drew a bizarre, yet hilarious, comment by Shriver.

Pam Shriver jokes about spending the night together before Daniil Medvedev’s comeback at Australian Open

The American tennis legend feared that the match could go very late into midnight after Medvedev was two sets to love down. For the record, it was already 1:30 when Medvedev lost the first two sets.

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As a result, it prompted a cheeky banter between Shriver and James Blake, who was a fellow commentator. Shriver said, “If this goes five, we are going to spend our first night together.” 

Medvedev’s match against Emil Ruusuvuori was the second encounter of the night session scheduled at the Rod Laver Arena. However, their match started late as the previous two games on the court also stretched for very long. While Carlos Alcaraz’s match lasted for close to three and a half hours, Elena Rybakina lost her match in two hours and 46 minutes.

Subsequently, Medvedev fought back and won his match in five sets 3-6, 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-0. It lasted just under four and a half hours, becoming one of the latest finishes at the Aussie Slam Over the past few years, late-night finishes have been a common feature at tournaments. However, this is severely affecting players’ health, as Iga Swiatek pointed out.

Iga Swiatek painted a sorry picture

Last year, the World Number 1 played back-to-back late-night matches at the Canadian Open. Subsequently, she slammed the WTA for poor scheduling of her matches. Iga Swiatek explained how it was taking a toll on her health.

“There’s only 1 big stadium normally for tournaments, so they have to manage the schedule. But sometimes it would be healthier to play earlier. 1 match like that is cool, I don’t mind… but four? Your whole sleep routine is getting ruined.”

While the ATP and the WTA Tour have limited night matches now, Grand Slam tournaments like the Australian Open continue to have a couple of night matches that draw huge crowds. Do you think the major tournaments must also limit the matches going on late in the night? Let us know your views in the comments below.

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