'A total mess!' - Tennis legend Andy Murray criticises 'amateurish' scheduling after late US Open finishes

Andy Murray took to social media on Monday to call tennis scheduling "amateurish" and "a total mess" after some late finishes at the US Open. The former world No. 1 posted on X after Qinwen Zheng's victory over Donna Vekic ran past 02:00 am local time. The latest finish to a match at Flushing Meadows came in 2022 , when Carlos Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner at 02:50 am.

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Tennis legend Andy Murray has hit out at the scheduling within the sport, describing it as "amateurish" after a string of late finishes at the 2024 US Open.

Murray took to social media after Qinwen Zheng's victory over Donna Vekic in the fourth round did not finish until 2:15am local time on Monday morning. Alexander Zverev's comeback victory over Tomas Martin Etcheverry did not finish until 2:35am a few days earlier.

The latter match finished just 15 minutes earlier than the latest finish at Flushing Meadows, which was the quarter-final clash between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in 2022, which finished at 02:50 am.

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Murray wrote on social media: "The tennis scheduling situation is a total mess.

"It looks so amateurish having matches going on at 2, 3, 4 am Sort it out."

He also tagged in the ATP Tour, WTA Tour, International Tennis Federation as well as the four Grand Slams.

Murray has previously given his thoughts on late-finishing matches, notably at Wimbledon 2023 when he revealed he had asked not to be the late match on Centre Court.

It came after the organisers moved the start time on Centre Court from 12:30pm to 1:30pm.

“It seems like a basic thing to change," Murray said at the time. "Just go back to the 1pm start or even 12.30pm. But it’s a financial reason they are doing it for, so it won’t change.

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“I had multiple conversations before the start of the tournament and asked not to play the third match every single day because that’s what is going to happen with the 1.30 start and the breaks in between the matches.

“The roof, in my opinion, was there for when it rains so that there are always matches that can go on for the fans and for TV, and it’s great. [But] it feels like it’s getting used now for darkness to play matches later in the evening.

“When you get that third slot, you have no way of practising on an indoor grass court. It’s not possible. I skipped the French Open to prepare to play my best tennis at Wimbledon but then you’re playing every match under different conditions than what you’re preparing for.

“You play an indoor match, the next day you are outside practising, then you come out to play again and it’s indoors and then we got stopped for time. The following day you are playing outdoors. It’s not a major thing but anyone that plays tennis knows playing indoors and outdoors is not the same. It’s a very different feeling.

“Generally it’s just not good for anyone. Often when the players complain about that stuff, you hear, ‘Oh, shut up and get on with it. Try working in a warehouse from nine to five.’

“I do get that. I know I’m fortunate to be playing tennis. It’s just that tennis is also partly entertainment. I don’t think it helps the sport much when you’re playing at 4am.

“Everyone’s leaving because they have to go and get public transport home and you finish a match like that in front of 10 per cent of the crowd. You don’t see it in other sports so it’s clearly wrong.”

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