Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Alcaraz Urges Grand Slam Cutoff After Record US Open Finish
Carlos Alcaraz wants tennis tournaments to finish matches earlier.
His US Open match against Ben Shelton ended at 3:33 in the morning.
Alcaraz said players may not reach their hotel or sleep until several hours later.
He believes this leaves them less time to recover for their next match.
He also said fans may leave or miss matches because they have work the next morning.
Wimbledon stops play at 11 p.m., while other major tournaments have different or no stated limits.
Shorter matches could reduce the number of very late finishes.
Andre Agassi disagrees with changing the five-set format because he thinks Grand Slam winners should have to prove themselves over a longer contest.
Carlos Alcaraz urged Grand Slam organisers to prevent matches from finishing deep into the night.
Ben Shelton defeated Alcaraz in a five-set US Open quarter-final that ended at 3:33 a.m. in New York.
The four-hour, 28-minute match was the latest finish in US Open history.
Alcaraz said late matches harm player recovery, reduce television audiences and prevent fans from attending or watching.
Andre Agassi supported guaranteed player downtime but defended five-set Grand Slam matches as essential to the sport's history.
- Who
- Carlos Alcaraz called for earlier finishes; Ben Shelton defeated him, while Andre Agassi defended five-set Grand Slam matches.
- What
- The discussion concerns late-night Grand Slam matches, scheduling limits and whether matches should be shortened.
- When
- Alcaraz's US Open quarter-final ended at 3:33 a.m. local time; he discussed the issue before the Laver Cup.
- Where
- The match took place in New York, and Alcaraz made his comments in London.
- Why
- Alcaraz said late finishes damage recovery and reduce fan and television audiences; Agassi said five-set matches protect the distinction and history of Grand Slam competition.
Earlier, Shorter Matches
Preserving Five-Set Tradition
Scheduling cutoff
Earlier, Shorter Matches
Alcaraz called for a maximum finish around 11 p.m. in one report and said even midnight was already too late in another.
Preserving Five-Set Tradition
Agassi agreed that matches should not finish so late but did not present changing the five-set format as the solution.
Match format
Earlier, Shorter Matches
Reducing Grand Slam matches to best-of-three sets, or reducing the number of games needed to win a set, could limit match length.
Preserving Five-Set Tradition
Agassi said five sets make Grand Slam victories more meaningful because players must win three sets rather than rely on a short run of form.
Impact on tennis
Earlier, Shorter Matches
Alcaraz said late matches can leave stadiums less full and reduce television audiences because fans need to leave or sleep before work.
Preserving Five-Set Tradition
Agassi argued that cutting match length could diminish the history and distinctiveness of Grand Slam tennis, while separately supporting protected offseason downtime.
- Match result
- Ben Shelton defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set US Open quarter-final.
- Finish time
- 3:33 a.m. local time in New York.
- Match duration
- Four hours and 28 minutes.
- US Open record
- The match was the latest finish in US Open history.
- Wimbledon limit
- Wimbledon halts play at 11 p.m. local time.
- Other Grand Slams
- The US Open, French Open and Australian Open have no stated universal stopping time in the reports.
- Possible changes
- Suggestions include an 11 p.m. cutoff, best-of-three matches or sets won by reaching four games.
