Andy Murray applauds tennis authorities effort to end late night matches

In a significant move to address the persistent issue of late-night matches in tennis, global governing bodies ATP and WTA have announced new regulations restricting match start times.

British tennis veteran Andy Murray, who endured a marathon five-hour, 45-minute battle last year, has welcomed the change, emphasizing its positive impact on player recovery and the overall professional image of the sport.

The decision comes in response to renewed calls for change following Murray’s memorable query during his grueling victory over Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Australian Open last year – “Why are we playing at 3 am?” The match concluded at a staggering 4:05 am, sparking widespread discussions about the need for reform.

Starting this week, no match on the ATP and WTA tours will commence after 11:00 pm, with evening sessions beginning at 7:30 pm at the latest. Murray, speaking in Melbourne on the eve of this year’s Australian Open, expressed his approval, stating, “It just makes sense. It’s a very obvious thing that needs to change.”

He believes the alterations will benefit players in terms of recovery for subsequent matches.

The measures, however, will only apply to tournaments on the ATP and WTA tours, leaving the Grand Slam events with their own set of rules.

The Australian Open, in an attempt to alleviate late-night finishes, has extended its duration to 15 days, starting on Sunday to distribute early-round action more evenly.

Murray, a five-time Australian Open finalist, remains skeptical about the effectiveness of the extended schedule.

While acknowledging the reduction of late-night matches on the main court, Rod Laver Arena, he points out that the possibility still exists on other show courts.

As the Australian Open kicks off, Murray, a five-time finalist, prepares to face Argentine 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the opening round, with a potential clash against world number one Novak Djokovic looming in the third round.