Australian Open: Weary Andy Murray calls 4am finish a farce | Tennis News – Times of India

MELBOURNE: The pyrotechnics at play in a Grand Slam may be begging for a shot clock on scheduling, but does tennis need a curfew hour? Are ante meridiem finishes too harsh on the body?
Andy Murray’s near six-hour battle against home hope Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Australian Open finished at 4.05am. The 35-year-old, metal hip and nerves of granite, rallied from two sets and 2-5 down in the third for a 4-6, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-3, 7-5 win in five hours and 45 minutes. Lest anyone go there, fairytales don’t have scorelines.
The Briton, the father of four, said if his children were ball kids and coming home at 5am, he would snap. And he wouldn’t be wrong.
“I don’t know who it’s beneficial for. Rather than it being a Murray-Kokkinakis epic, it ends in a bit of a farce,” said Murray, whose press conference was recorded close to 5am.
“It’s not beneficial for umpires, officials. It’s not good for the players.” Murray, who had exhausted his bathroom breaks, wasn’t allowed to use the toilet later in the match. “I understand the rules, I’ve obviously been very vocal about that. But it’s 3 in the morning, I’ve been drinking all day. I need to go to the toilet,” said Murray after the longest match of his career.
“I understand you don’t want people taking advantage of the rules, but when you’re sticking on the players 3-4 in the morning…” Jessica Pegula, the No. 3 seed, who accelerated into the women’s fourth round, billed the finish-time as crazy. “There’s no sport that does that,” she said.
“It was a great match, but who really wants to watch a five- six-hour match?” Pegula, whose father Terrance, a billionaire business -man, and mother Kim, own sports teams — Buffalo Sabres (National Hockey League) and Buffalo Bills (National Football League) — know a thing or two about the business of sport.
“It definitely needs to be talked about and changed,” the 28-year-old said.
“I know it doesn’t happen that often, but when it’s happening at a Grand Slam, the biggest stage… That is not healthy. Like, the recovery. People don’t realize, you can’t sleep after that either. You’re so wired.” Murray was back at Melbourne Park some eight hours after rallying from two-sets-to-love down for a record 11th time in his career.
He was scheduled for recovery work and then had an evening practice session ahead of Saturday’s third round match against the 24th seed Roberto Bautista Agut. Jannik Sinner, the world No. 16, who played Carlos Alcaraz in the five-hour, 15-minute quarterfinal that finished at 2.50am, the latest-ever finish of the US Open, said 4am features were as much a part of the sport as 11am starts.
Tsitsipas, the third seed, who plays Sinner in the fourth round, said, “Tennis likes these kinds of matches, there’s a great story behind this match and it’s going to be remembered.” The Greek recalled the Marcos Baghdatis-Lleyton Hewitt clash at the Australian Open 15 years ago to the day. The Aussie prevailed in four hours and 45 minutes then, sealing his victory at 4.34am.
“I remember the match,” he said, “It was a magical moment.” Players might well press for a Cinderella-hour cut-off, it would be good for the body. The spirit is a different matter.