Novak Djokovic wades into schedule debate as 3am end sparks row

The tennis world has discovered itself within the midst of one other row about match scheduling after a tricky week with the rain in Canada. Rybakina initially branded the WTA “unprofessional” after she defeated Daria Kasatkina at 3am within the quarters earlier than her semi-final match was rained off for a day.

The delays additionally meant that runner-up Luidmila Samsonova twice needed to play two matches in someday – together with beating Rybakina within the semi-final. But she had nothing left for the ultimate, crashing out in simply 48 minutes and likewise blaming the scheduling. Djokovic has now responded as he shared the difficulties of splitting tournaments into day and night time periods.

“Throughout my careers, I have also experienced very late match endings. It doesn’t usually happen regularly, but from time to time,” the 23-time Grand Slam champion stated. “And now many tournaments are introducing night sessions that they didn’t have before.”

But the world No 2 is aware of why introducing night time periods is vital for the occasions and spectators as he stated there must be a steadiness. Djokovic continued: “Tournaments seek to make more profit by selling tickets for the day and night sessions and I think before it was played in full session.

“Now, when the day session ends, they empty the stadium so that the people who will be in the night session can enter. It seems good for the players, maybe it’s not ideal, but you also have to find the balance to satisfy the fans. Tournaments are just looking for more profit and income.”

Although it left the gamers in a tough spot, Djokovic additionally is aware of that the night time periods have their very own allure – particularly on the upcoming US Open. “The night sessions are more entertaining, the people cheer more and the US Open night sessions are the most famous in tennis,” he remarked.