Empty seats, tired stars: The US Open’s post-2 a.m. finishes spark a pushback
Summary
The 2026 U.S. Open tennis tournament has seen several matches finishing after 2 a.m., causing players and fans to feel tired. This late-night schedule has raised questions about how late matches should continue, given the challenges for players and audiences.Key Facts
- The U.S. Open had three matches finish after 2 a.m. within the first six days of the tournament.
- Two other matches ended past 1 a.m.
- Players like Alexander Zverev and Jessica Pegula have expressed concern about the late finishing times.
- Wimbledon has an 11 p.m. curfew on matches, and the French Open schedules only one match per night.
- The U.S. Open traditionally features night matches, but this year the late finishes are more extreme.
- On opening night, Venus Williams played her match starting at 12:13 a.m., one of the latest starts in U.S. Open history.
- The late match times make it difficult for both players and some fans, as many people prefer to sleep rather than watch very late matches.
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