This year’s Australian Open will be a day longer with the intent to avoid late finishes that have plagued the event for years.
Instead of the usual 14 tennis days in Melbourne, tennis fans will get 15 days this year because the event will start one day earlier. It will begin on Sunday, January 14th, with Djokovic and Sabalenka leading a pretty solid opening day at the event.
It was an interesting move by the event’s organizers, who hoped the extra time would prevent late finishes that plagued the event for years. Players certainly weren’t happy with it and this should prevent it.
Some, like John McEnroe, think it’s just a money grab. Some, like Andy Murray, don’t think it will change their schedule much.
“I don’t think the Sunday start will change the late finishes. I think on center court they’re having two matches in the day, two matches in the evening. I think that will reduce the possibility for late finishes on Rod Laver. But I don’t think the Sunday start will change late finishes, no.”
As Murray said, the fact that the organizers will be keeping the Rod Laver schedule at only 4 matches is likely going to have a bigger effect. There are two matches in the day’s schedule and two in the night sessions.
The night session will be starting at 19:00 local time, which isn’t too late, but it could certainly extend to be a late finish. The first day will see Novak Djokovic play at 19:00, and if his match goes 3-4 hours, then Aryna Sabalenka’s match might extend into the next day.
That’s even more likely if both matches are men’s matches, which will likely be avoided. We’ll see how it goes in practice, as we’re less than 48 hours away from the event’s start.
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