Australian Open chief Craig Tiley insisted on Friday there was “no need” to change scheduling on the match regardless of stinging criticism after the second newest match finish at a Grand Slam.
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Veteran Andy Murray battled by way of a five-set epic towards residence hope Thanasi Kokkinakis which ended at 04:05 on Friday to succeed in the third spherical, calling the early hours conclusion “a bit of a farce”.
“I don’t know who it’s beneficial for. A match like that, we come here after the match, and that’s what the discussion is,” the 35-year-old Briton stated after the 5 hours and 45 minutes spectacle, the longest of his profession.
“Rather than it being, like, ‘epic Murray-Kokkinakis match’, it ends in a bit of a farce.”
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Incredibly, Murray was noticed again at Melbourne Park lower than eight hours after the match, with Kokkinakis taking to Instagram to be pay tribute.
“You’re a warrior Andy Murray and a honour to share the court with you,” he stated.
The newest finish within the Open period was additionally on the Australian Open, in 2008 when Lleyton Hewitt outlasted Marcos Baghdatis in a third-round conflict that ended at 04:34.
Tennis nice Martina Navratilova stated “no other sport does this”.
“It is essential we create better rules in tennis regarding the weather (light and wind) and starting times or cutoff times for matches,” she tweeted.
“Murray and Kokkinakis will finish around 4am. Crazy – no other sport does this.”
Andy Murray supported by brother
Murray’s brother Jamie, a doubles specialist who can be enjoying at Melbourne Park, joined the refrain of criticism, saying it was time to maneuver to only one match in night time classes at Grand Slams.
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“This is the best outcome for ALL singles players,” he tweeted.
“We can’t continue to have players compete into the wee hours of the morning. Rubbish for everyone involved – players/fans/event staff etc.”
But Tiley stated it was half and parcel of the opening Grand Slam of the yr – whose scheduling this yr has been disrupted by intense warmth and rain – and it didn’t occur usually.
“You would expect from 7pm to 12pm (the evening session) in that five-hour window, you would get two matches,” he instructed broadcaster Channel Nine.
“We even have to guard the matches. If you simply put one match at night time and there’s an damage, you don’t have something for followers or broadcasters.
“At this point there is no need to alter the schedule,” he added.
“We always look at it when we do the debrief like we do every year, we’ve had long matches before, at this point we’ve got to fit the matches into the 14 days so you don’t have many options.”
In entrance of a raucous however weary Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne, Murray lastly prevailed 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 7-5.
While he praised the followers who remained until the bitter finish, he raised issues in regards to the ball children.
“If my child was a ball kid for a tournament, they’re coming home at five in the morning, as a parent, I’m snapping at that,” stated the Scot, himself a dad.
“It’s not beneficial for them. It’s not beneficial for the umpires, the officials. I don’t think it’s amazing for the fans. It’s not good for the players.”
Czech world quantity 86 Marketa Vondrousova, who shocked second seed Ons Jabeur in a match that completed on neighbouring Rod Laver Arena after 01:00, stated even that was too late.
“It’s kind of crazy. I think for the body also, I don’t think it’s healthy to play at 1am,” she stated.
“Also, like, if you are playing three sets, it’s crazy.”
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse