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Australian Open boss explains why 4am finish for Murray vs Kokkinakis was INEVITABLE, as superstars like Martina Navratilova criticize Open scheduling: ‘No other sport does this’
- TA boss Craig Tiley confirmed more finals could follow at 4am in Melbourne
- The epic match between Andy Murray and Thanasi Kokkinakis ended at 4:05 am
- Murray said after the match that the scheduling situation was a ‘sham’, needs review
- Tennis legends Martina Navratilova and Andy Roddick were equally critical.
Australian Open boss Craig Tiley has confirmed that the tournament has no choice but to continue with finals at 4am at Melbourne Park.
His statement follows the five-set epic between home hope Thanasi Kokkinakis and veteran Andy Murray that left fans – and players – exhausted after match point was decided at 4:08am Friday time. local.
Many have criticized the absurd late finish, including tennis legend Martina Navratilova.
“It is essential that we create better rules in tennis regarding weather (light and wind) and match start or cut-off times,” the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion tweeted.
‘Murray and Kokkinakis will finish around 4am. Crazy, no other sport does this.
Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley has confirmed that the 4am finals will have to continue at Melbourne Park as the schedule leaves the tournament with no other option.
Andy Murray called the 4am finish time for his win over Thanasi Kokkinakis a “sham” when it came to scheduling at the Australian Open.
Tiley told the Today show on Friday morning that there will be no immediate changes to the 2023 draw at Melbourne Park.
“At this point, there is no need to alter the schedule,” he said.
“We’ve had years where we finish every night at 12 or earlier. But you also have to protect the matches. If you only put on one game at night and there is an injury, you have nothing for the fans.
“We will always review it during the report, as we do every year. We’ve had long games before but, right now, we have to fit those games into the 14 days, so you don’t have a lot of options.”
Speaking after the match, Murray reaffirmed his belief that their second round clash ended too late.
The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Martina Navratilova noted that “no other sport” has a late schedule like tennis.
“I don’t know for whom it is beneficial,” he said. ‘It ends in some kind of farce.
“Amazingly, people stayed until the end, and I really appreciate that they did that and created an atmosphere for us at the end.
‘Obviously some people need to work the next day and everything. If my son was a ball boy in a tournament and got home at five in the morning, as a parent, I would criticize him.
‘It’s not beneficial for them. It is not beneficial for the referees, the officials. I don’t think it’s surprising to the fans. It is not good for the players.
“We talk about it all the time, and it has been talked about for years. But when you start late night games and have conditions like that, these things are going to happen.”
Retired American player Andy Roddick was shocked to see Murray denied the opportunity to go to the bathroom at the start of the fifth set.
Former US Open champion Andy Roddick expressed concern about the effect the late finish would have on Murray.
‘If I’m him, I don’t sacrifice body labor for sleep right away. You have to mash up some food before sleeping too.
There’s no chance I’d be in the slightest bit worried about practicing between matches. Massage, ice all day. If you can steal 4-5 hours of sleep today, great,” he tweeted.
Murray was also furious during his match with Kokkinakis when he was denied a request to go to the bathroom.
The three-time Grand Slam winner asked to use the bathroom, but his plea fell on deaf ears.
Roddick later tweeted his agreement with Murray’s stance, writing: “This is so dumb.”