The 2023 U.S. Open has once again highlighted a growing challenge for the tournament and its fans: matches routinely extend late into the night, often leading to diminished in-person attendance despite high-quality competition. Tuesday’s quarterfinals exemplified this issue as a series of long, tightly contested matches pushed the night session’s start back by 90 minutes, ultimately leading to one of the latest finishes in the tournament’s history.
On Tuesday, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Linda Noskova in a three-set match that ended in a deciding tiebreaker, followed by Frances Tiafoe’s five-set victory over Alex Michelsen. Jessica Pegula then beat Emma Navarro in three sets, further delaying play. As a result, the night’s marquee contest between Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz, two rising American stars, did not begin until shortly after 11 p.m. Eastern Time, with the match itself stretching into the early hours of Wednesday.
Such late finishes have become a recurring pattern at the U.S. Open this year, with several matches beginning or ending past midnight, thereby reducing the number of spectators remaining in the stadium. For example, the mixed doubles final during Fan Week extended to nearly midnight despite its normally shorter format, with Arthur Ashe Stadium only about three-quarters full at the conclusion.
This trend stems from several factors. The increasing physicality of tennis matches, combined with the sport’s growing depth, has led to more competitive encounters lasting longer than usual. Additionally, the 30-second serve clock has sometimes slowed rather than sped up play, as players utilize the full allotted time to recover between points. As a result, even early-round matches have stretched into the early morning hours, frustrating both fans and players.
The tournament’s scheduling adjustments have so far failed to resolve the situation. The U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) reduced day sessions at Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadium to two matches instead of three, with later start times intended to prevent spillover into the night session. Tournament director Eric Butorac acknowledged the complexity of the problem and indicated openness to possible solutions but stressed that extreme changes, such as altering scoring formats or moving night sessions earlier, are not currently viable.
Moreover, the USTA maintains a commitment to gender equality in match scheduling, dismissing the French Open’s approach of limiting night matches to a single men’s match as a nonstarter. While late-night matches disadvantage some local fans and players, they do provide a scheduling benefit for international audiences. Matches that finish late on the East Coast air during prime time on the U.S. West Coast and are accessible to viewers across Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Players have expressed concerns about the late hours, noting that such schedules interfere with rest, practice, and recovery. Venus Williams, who played just after midnight in the first round, called the timing "not ideal," while Alexander Zverev reportedly had bedtimes near 5 a.m. during the opening week.
Despite these challenges, the intense competition has drawn enthusiasm from night owls and international audiences. Nonetheless, the ongoing struggle to balance extended match durations with reasonable start and finish times remains a significant issue for the U.S. Open, with no clear resolution yet in sight.