The French Open 2024 has seen its fair share of late-night matches, with Novak Djokovic's third-round encounter against Lorenzo Musetti setting a new record for the latest finish at Roland Garros. The match ended at 3:07 a.m. local time on June 2, after starting at 10:37 p.m. the previous night.
The grueling five-set encounter lasted four hours and 29 minutes, leaving both players physically and mentally drained.
Coco Gauff, the US Open women's champion, expressed her concerns over late finishing matches at Grand Slams and their impact on player health. She suggested that tournament organizers should consider implementing a mandatory cutoff time for when night matches can begin.
Gauff is not alone in her views. Iga Swiatek, the defending women's champion, also called for action to address the issue of late-night matches.
The ATP and WTA Tours introduced a new rule earlier this year which prohibits matches from starting after 11 p.m., but this ruling does not apply to the four major tournaments. The French Open has been criticized for its scheduling decisions, with some players expressing frustration over late starts and long waits between matches.
Djokovic, who will face Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo in the fourth round on Monday, did not want to discuss the scheduling decision after his marathon victory against Musetti. However, he acknowledged that physically, he had gone to his limits during the match.
The late finishes are becoming a regular feature on the tennis calendar, with similar occurrences at other Grand Slams such as the Australian Open and US Open. The impact on player health and well-being is a growing concern for many in the sport.
