Craig Tiley, the newly appointed chief executive of the United States Tennis Association, told Sky Sports Tennis that the tournament will retain its current format of staging two matches during daylight hours and two after dark at Flushing Meadows beginning in 2027. Tiley, who assumed the USTA’s top job earlier this year after a decade leading Tennis Australia, emphasized that he has no intention of altering the schedule that fans have grown accustomed to. The comment follows a memorable quarter‑final that saw Ben Shelton battle Carlos Alcaraz in a five‑set marathon that did not conclude until 3:33 a.m.
local time on Wednesday. The near‑five‑hour duel unfolded while most of the city was asleep, yet it delivered one of the most dramatic finishes the sport has witnessed on its biggest stage.
Historical data shows that late‑night finishes are not new to the US Open. Matches have previously stretched beyond 2 a.m.
on three occasions during the first six days of the tournament, with two additional contests slipping past 1 a.m. Players have long praised the unique atmosphere of competing under the lights in New York, describing the electric buzz that only a night session can provide. Nevertheless, the trend of ultra‑late conclusions has become a flashpoint in broader discussions about player welfare, prize‑money distribution, and overall working conditions on the professional tour.
While the US Open has faced criticism for its late endings, its fellow Grand Slams have taken steps to curb the problem. Wimbledon now enforces an 11 p.m. curfew, and the French Open limits night play to a single match per day, whereas the Australian Open continues to grapple with similar complaints.
In addition to the scheduling debate, the tournament has been a backdrop for several headline‑making moments. Alexander Zverev has publicly claimed to be the world’s best player, while also issuing a warning to rivals Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Zverev later eliminated Ben Shelton in the semifinals, ending the American’s dream of a first Grand Slam title. The event also featured notable doubles and wheelchair victories, with British athletes Neal Skupski and Alfie Hewett each capturing titles in their respective categories.
One proposed remedy – shifting the start of evening sessions to an earlier hour – runs into logistical challenges. Many New Yorkers rely on post‑work travel to reach Flushing Meadows, and organizers must balance the needs of both day‑time and night‑time spectators. Tiley addressed these concerns directly, acknowledging the frustration of fans who have to stay up until the early morning hours.
He explained that match length is largely beyond the tournament’s control, noting that while the time between points has remained stable over the past decade, men’s matches have grown by roughly 25 minutes on average. This increase, he said, is attributable to the introduction of the shot clock, longer towel breaks, and a generally more measured pace of play. "You can’t dictate how long a match will run," Tiley remarked. "The data shows that even though matches feel longer, they’re still not among the longest in the last ten years.
Still, nobody wants to finish at 3:30 a.m., even if the rest of the world enjoyed an incredible showdown during their daytime hours." He reiterated his commitment to the two‑day, two‑night format, emphasizing that fans appreciate the variety of seeing a women’s contest followed by a marquee men’s match in each session. "If a match runs long, it becomes a great sporting ticket," he said, adding that the tournament will continue to offer that blend of entertainment.
Following the Shelton‑Alcaraz epic, the US Open’s social‑media team posted a playful fill‑in‑the‑blank prompt, encouraging fans to ask their employers for time off to watch the action. The tweet read: "We understand how important showing up is, but sometimes you have to make time for things you're passionate about.
Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton put on 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 recurring suggestion in the conversation about late finishes is to reduce men’s matches in the early rounds from best‑of‑five to best‑of‑three sets. This idea remains controversial, as many purists view five‑set battles as a defining feature of Grand Slam tennis.
Frances Tiafoe weighed in, stating, "I think for the men we should stick with three out of five. We've seen so many epics in five‑setters. Do I love five‑setters?
Absolutely not. There are times I’d rather finish a two‑set lead and go home, but that’s tennis." The US Open will be broadcast live on Sky Sports starting August 30, with streaming options available on NOW and the Sky Sports app without a contract. Fans can also catch the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, also on Sky Sports.