Craig Tiley, the newly appointed chief executive of the United States Tennis Association, has confirmed to Sky Sports Tennis that the tournament will retain its current format of two daytime matches and two evening matches at Flushing Meadows starting in 2027. Tiley, who stepped into the USTA’s top role earlier this year after a decade leading Tennis Australia, emphasized that no alterations to the schedule are being contemplated.
His remarks come on the heels of a marathon quarter‑final that saw Ben Shelton defeat world‑number‑one Carlos Alcaraz in a five‑set battle that did not conclude until 3:33 a.m. local time on Wednesday.
The near‑five‑hour encounter left most spectators exhausted and many still in bed when the final point was played on one of tennis’s most prestigious stages. Historical precedents illustrate how late finishes have become a recurring theme at the US Open. Matches such as Alexander Zverev’s win over Brooksby in Acapulco 2022 (finished at 4:54 a.m.), Lleyton Hewitt’s triumph over Marcos Baghdatis at the 2008 Australian Open (4:34 a.m.), and Andy Murray’s victory over Alex Kokkinakis at the 2023 Australian Open (4:05 a.m.) all underscore the sport’s capacity for late‑night drama. More recently, Daniil Medvedev’s 2024 Australian Open win over Otto Ruusuvuori wrapped up at 3:39 a.m., while Andreas Seppi’s 2007 Australian Open success over John Reynolds ended at 3:34 a.m.
The Shelton‑Alcaraz match now joins that list, marking a sixth instance of a Grand Slam match concluding after 3 a.m. Players have long cherished the unique atmosphere of night matches illuminated under the bright lights of New York City. Yet the tournament has already set a record with three post‑2 a.m. completions within the first six days, and two additional matches have pushed past the 1 a.m.
threshold. These late endings have taken on added significance amid a broader movement by top players demanding higher prize money, better welfare provisions, and more reasonable working conditions. The timing of matches has emerged as a flashpoint in discussions about the rigors of life on tour. Other Grand Slam events have taken steps to curb extreme late finishes.
Wimbledon enforces an 11 p.m. local curfew, halting play once that hour is reached. The French Open limits night sessions to a single match per day, while the Australian Open has faced criticism for its own late‑night schedules but has not yet imposed strict cut‑offs. The US Open’s approach remains distinct, favoring a two‑day, two‑night session model that delivers a blend of women's and men’s action in each block.
Tiley acknowledged the logistical challenges of moving evening sessions to an earlier start time. "New Yorkers who love tennis need time to commute from work to Flushing Meadows," he explained, noting that organizers must balance the needs of daytime and nighttime crowds.
He also highlighted the difficulty of controlling match length, stating, "You can't dictate how long a match will run. Over the past decade, the average time from the start of a point to its conclusion has remained fairly constant, but men's matches have grown by roughly 25 minutes on average. This is due to the introduction of the shot clock, longer towel breaks, and a generally more measured pace of play." Despite the occasional 3:30 a.m. finish, Tiley argued that the data does not support a radical overhaul.
"The average duration of men’s matches today still does not rank among the longest in the past ten years," he said. "While it feels late, the reality is that the overall match times are manageable.
However, nobody wants to watch a match end at 3:30 a.m., even if fans around the world are witnessing a spectacular contest." He reiterated his support for the existing format: "We really like the two‑day, two‑night structure. Two full sessions give fans a women’s match and a marquee men’s match, which is exactly what our audience wants. They can enjoy three to five hours of high‑quality tennis, and if a match runs long, it becomes an unforgettable sporting ticket.
That’s why we’ll keep it." Following the Shelton‑Alcaraz showdown, the US Open’s social media accounts posted a tongue‑in‑cheek fill‑in‑the‑blank prompt, encouraging fans to ask their employers for time off to watch the marathon. The tweet read, "We understand the importance of showing up, but sometimes you have to make time for your passions.
Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton delivered an absolute stellar performance during their US Open quarter‑final, and ______ was a fully committed fan who was completely locked in from start to finish." Another frequent suggestion in the debate over late finishes is to shorten men’s early‑round matches to best‑of‑three sets. This proposal, however, meets resistance from traditionalists who view five‑set battles as the hallmark of Grand Slam competition. Frances Tiafoe defended the five‑set format, stating, "I think for the men we should stick with three out of five. We've seen so many epic moments in five‑setters.
I love them, even if sometimes I’d prefer to finish early and go home. But that’s tennis." The US Open will be broadcast live on Sky Sports beginning August 30, with streaming options available on NOW and the Sky Sports app. Fans can also attend the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, which will be shown on Sky Sports as well.