Retired American tennis player Andy Roddick has defended the U.S. Open's late-night scheduling following a five-set quarterfinal match between Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz that concluded shortly after 3:30 a.m. ET. Shelton's victory marked a significant career milestone, making him the first American man to defeat either Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner at a Grand Slam.
Roddick, who won the U.S. Open in 2003, addressed the criticism on his "Served" podcast. He acknowledged the complaints about matches ending in the early morning but questioned the lack of proposed solutions. "I hear a lot of complaining. I don’t hear a lot of proposed solutions," Roddick stated.
He explained that the tournament's schedule is often dictated by the duration of previous matches and the necessity of safely clearing stadiums. Roddick pointed out that the U.S. Open's night session is a valued aspect of the tournament, and that scheduling is subject to the luck of match lengths. He conceded that five-hour matches can test viewers' patience, echoing sentiments from sports podcaster Bill Simmons.
"Starting earlier wasn’t possible because of Frances and Mickelson’s match," Roddick said, referring to another men's quarterfinal. "And so, you have to have a night session at the US Open. It’s one of the things that we all love."
Roddick also emphasized the appeal of long-form matches in tennis, suggesting that the sport's difficulty is part of its allure. "I kind of like the fact that we have a sport where you get into these long-form matches, and it’s the hardest thing on earth. It’s the hardest sport in the world. If you take that away, can we lay that claim anymore? I don’t know."
He recognized the practical arguments for a shorter format, understanding the inconvenience for tournament staff and spectators alike. "I understand all of the pragmatists out there that say we should have a shorter format. I understand the reasons for it. I understand that it’s inconvenient for Sean to be up until 4:00 a.m., you know, watching this match while he’s editing last night’s show," Roddick said. "I understand that some people have to go to sleep because, like you, I had to go to sleep to protect my workday today. I understand all of the rational arguments."
Ben Shelton is set to play Frances Tiafoe in an all-American semifinal. The last American-born man to win the U.S. Open men's singles title was Roddick himself in 2003. Frances Tiafoe, who reached the semifinals in 2022, and Shelton's presence ensures at least one American man will be in the final. Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.