The US Open has once again come under fire for its scheduling woes! Even before the start of the tournament, a bizarre trend of problematic schedules for the players has sparked a heated debate among fans. Be it Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, or Sloane Stephens, all have come under the spotlight in regard to the persistent scheduling issues of the US Open tournament this season. Now, the latest controversy involves Aryna Sabalenka and Ekaterina Alexandrova!

Be it snubbing Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton from the prime time slot to favor the 24 grand slam champion’s night session matches or keeping Gauff out of the opening night matchups at the start of the tournament. American fans are not having a great time watching the 144th edition of the US Open this season. Moreover, the scheduling issues have also led players to compete in grueling conditions, with minimal rest and recovery time.

Furthermore, the tightly packed stadium and uncomfortable viewing experience of the matches have also contributed to the same. It seems that the trouble for fans isn’t going away anytime soon, as Sabalenka and Alexandrova’s match is also facing backlash because of its troublesome scheduling delay. The match, which started post 12 am, ended with World No. 2’s victory at 6-1, 1-6, 2-6. However, the late night completion of the clash ignited another series of unhappy reactions from fans on X!

Fans react with disappointment after Aryna Sabalenka’s late night match in the US Open

After watching Sabalenka’s late night match, one fan’s scathing verdict was, “Pathetic and irresponsible.” Much like fans, players are also not comfortable about this issue. “I guess for the fans there is something special about late-night finishes, particularly post-midnight. For us, I don’t know. It’s not really what you want but if you get a W (win), then it’s all good,” said Novak Djokovic after his first victory at the US Open. Although he appreciated the day of training between two matches in the tournament, the 37-year-old player, who started his run in the night sessions, hoped to finish at a more “decent” time.

One fan pointed out on X, “When are the players unions going to step in on this. I know it’s great for TV but it’s just brutal for the players.” A few days ago, we saw the consequences of the tight schedules, when Alcaraz had a shocking exit in the second round of the event. Addressing the tennis schedule to be “tight,” the Spaniard admitted how playing consecutive matches drained him even after taking a short break. Without intending to use it as an excuse for his early exit, the 2022 US Open champion subtly pointed out that “his energy” was not enough to beat the “tight” schedule of the matches.

The PTPA (Professional Tennis Players Association) has faced criticism for not doing enough to address the issue. “What are you doing PTPA? Time to show some teeth,” demanded one fan after watching Aryna Sabalenka’s third round clash post midnight. Referring to the brutal timeline of matches, Iga Swiatek said, “I don’t think our sport is going in the right direction,” after her second round match at the US Open. She openly called out the WTA Tour to consider a player’s “mental” and “physical” health in this regard, asking for a change in the rules.

“Absolutely ridiculous,” says another fan. Remember Djokovic’s five-set victory against Lorenzo Musetti in the French Open? The then defending champion’s match went on till 3.07 am and is considered to be the latest ever finished match at the clay slam. Although he refrained from getting into the discussion, players like Gauff, went ahead and commented, “I definitely think it’s not healthy.”

“They don’t care about player wellbeing at all,” wrote another angry fan. For Swiatek, this matter has gone out of hand, as she said earlier this season, “It’s not easy to play and it’s not like we’re going to fall asleep one hour after the match. [Change] is not up to us. We need to accept anything that is going to come to us.” Referring to the drawbacks of the situation, Andy Murray pointed out how the players are “goosed,” the next day after such late night finishes, making it hard for them to continue the battle for the next match.

Fans and players alike are demanding change, calling for the tournament organizers to prioritize player wellbeing over TV ratings. Will the PTPA step in to address the issue? Only time will tell.