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Carlos Alcaraz Voices Frustration Over 3:30 a.m. US Open Finish

Carlos Alcaraz expressed his frustration during a press conference in London, reflecting on his marathon quarterfinal match against Ben Shelton at the U.S. Open that ended at 3:33 a.m. The late finish marked a new record for the latest conclusion in U.S. Open history, surpassing the previous mark of 2:50 a.m. set in 2022.

Alcaraz described the toll such a late finish takes on a player. "For an athlete finishing at 3:30 in the morning, it means we had to leave the courts at 4:30, then back to the hotel," he said. "You don't go to bed until 6:30 or 7 in the morning. To recover for the next match, the person you play has an advantage."

Match Details and Scheduling Issues

The intense five-set match saw Shelton upset the former World No. 1, captivating tennis fans worldwide. However, scheduling delays earlier that day caused the match to start over an hour late, beginning around 8:20 p.m. rather than the planned time.

Alcaraz added, "It is a shame a match like this didn't reach a lot of people because they have to go to bed, they have to work in the morning. If that match had started at 7 or 8 p.m., at the maximum finishing at 11, the stadium would have been packed. A lot had to miss it because of the schedule." Despite the late timing, ESPN still drew an average of 1.3 million viewers for the match.

Responses to Scheduling Concerns

USTA director Craig Tiley addressed the issue in an interview with Sky Sports. He acknowledged complaints about late finishes but challenged critics by asking for alternatives. "I hear from a lot of people that it finishes too late and then I say, OK, and your suggestion is? I don’t get anything," he stated. "You can’t control the length of the match."

  • Match: Carlos Alcaraz vs Ben Shelton, U.S. Open Quarterfinals
  • Finish Time: 3:33 a.m. (new U.S. Open record)
  • Previous Record: 2:50 a.m. (Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner, 2022)
  • Match Length: Five sets
  • Start Delay: About 1 hour later than scheduled (started at 8:20 p.m.)
  • ESPN Viewership: Averaged 1.3 million viewers

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