The 9 latest finishes in US Open history – as former world No 1 slams ‘total mess’
Grand Slam scheduling is again under discussion – for all the wrong reasons.
The 2024 US Open has set the record for the tournament’s latest-ever start, its latest-ever finish for a women’s singles match, and the second-latest finish for any US Open match.
Late finishes have become a recurrent theme in New York in recent years, as well as the Australian and French Opens – which have both had matches finish past 3 am this year.
“The tennis scheduling situation is a total mess. It looks so amateurish having matches going on at 2,3 4am,” wrote Andy Murray, who famously competed past 4 am at the 2023 Australian Open, on Twitter/X.
With the controversial scheduling again under the spotlight, we look at the nine latest finishes in US Open history.
9) Maria Sakkari def Bianca Andreescu, 2021: 02:13
This match held the record for the latest women’s finish until last night.
In a contest that went on until 02.13 am, 17th seed Sakkari beat sixth seed Andreescu 6-7(2), 7-6(8), 6-3 to reach her first US Open quarter-final.
She would go on to reach the last four.
=7) Zheng Qinwen def Donna Vekic, 2024: 02:15
Now the latest women’s match in Flushing Meadows history, Qinwen vs Vekic is also the joint-seventh latest finish the tournament has ever seen.
Seventh seed Qinwen prevailed 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-2 after two hours and 50 minutes in the early hours on Monday morning, converting her second match point at 02.15 am.
She faces Aryna Sabalenka in the last eight on Tuesday.
=7) Frances Tiafoe def Andrey Rublev, 2021: 02.15
Tiafoe is a star performer at the US Open, and one of his most memorable wins came in the early hours of the morning back in 2021.
The American star beat Andrey Rublev in a five-set epic in the third round, upsetting the fifth seed 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-1 in a match that finished at 02.15 am.
It finished just two minutes later than Sakkari-Andreescu in the same tournament and is now level with Qinwen-Vekic.
6) Carlos Alcaraz def Marin Cilic, 2022: 02.23
Believe it or not, this is the first of two Alcaraz matches from his 2022 title run to make this countdown.
Up against former US Open champion Cilic, the Spaniard battled his way to a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory to reach the last eight (more on that shortly…).
That match finished at 02.23 am, making it the fourth-latest finish at the time – and now the sixth-latest ever.
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=3) Kei Nishikori def Milos Raonic, 2014: 02:26
Until 2022, the record for the latest was jointly shared by three different matches, all of which finished at 02.26 am.
The most recent was this 2014 clash between Nishikori and Raonic, which the Japanese won on his way to ultimately reaching the final.
Nishikori edged his way to a 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-4 victory in this fourth-round match.
=3) Philipp Kohlschreiber def John Isner, 2012: 02:26
Just two years before Nishikori-Raonic, Kohlschreiber and Isner were also on court until 02.26 am.
Rain delays meant that this match did not get onto the court until past 11 pm, and a five-set epic meant it extended well past 2 am.
Kolhschreiber, the 19th seed, eventually battled his way to a 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 triumph over ninth seed and home favourite Isner.
=3) Mats Wilander def Mikael Pernfors, 1993: 02:26
This 1993 clash between Swedish stars Wilander Pernfors was the outright record holder for 19 years, and the joint record holder for another ten years after that.
Former US Open champion Wilander beat his compatriot 7-6(3), 3-6, 1-6, 7-6(8), 6-4 to reach the third round, having received a wildcard into the main draw.
Lasting almost four hours, this match between the two veterans is still the third-latest finish in New York history, 31 years on.
2) Alexander Zverev def Tomas Etcheverry, 2024: 02:35
In a match that took place earlier this tournament, Zverev and Etcheverry finished their third round match at 02.35 am, just 15 minutes shy of the record.
With lengthy matches taking place on Court Louis Armstrong throughout the day, Zverev and Etcheverry did not start until close to 11 pm.
In a contest which lasted three hours and 36, the fourth seed battled his way to a 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-3 victory – and the second-latest victory in US Open history.
1) Carlos Alcaraz def Jannik Sinner, 2022: 02:50
In a record that hopefully will never be broken, the extraordinary quarter-final between Alcaraz and Sinner two years ago did not finish until 2.50 am local time.
Alcaraz came on off the back of his late finish against Cilic and was again forced to play well into the early hours of the morning.
Saving a match point, the fourth seed won 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-3 to beat Sinner – and ultimately went on to take the title.
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