Tiley Keeps US Open Day-Night Format Despite 3:33am Finish — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Craig Tiley told Sky Sports Tennis he plans no changes to the US Open's format of two day matches and two night matches for 2027, saying 'I will keep it.'
- Tiley, who became USTA CEO earlier this year after leading Tennis Australia since 2013, defended the schedule after Ben Shelton's quarter-final against Carlos Alcaraz stretched past 3:33am local time on Wednesday.
- The 2026 US Open set a record with three post-2am finishes in its first six days, alongside two more matches that ran past 1am.
- Tiley argued average men's matches have grown about 25 minutes longer over the past decade because of shot-clock timing and towel use, while actual point-play time has stayed roughly the same.
- Other Grand Slams have moved to curb late finishes — Wimbledon enforces an 11pm local curfew, while the French Open limits night sessions to a single match.
- Frances Tiafoe rejected calls to shorten men's Grand Slam matches to best-of-three sets, saying five-set epics are 'tennis, man' even if he personally would rather 'shake hands and go home' when up two sets.
- The US Open's social media team leaned into the late-night drama with a fill-in-the-blank letter fans could send bosses to excuse a Wednesday absence after the Shelton-Alcaraz marathon.
Why it matters: Tiley's data-driven defense — pointing to a 25-minute increase in average men's match length driven by shot-clock and towel rituals rather than more actual play — directly answers critics who want Wimbledon-style curfews at Flushing Meadows. With the late-finish flashpoint already dovetailing with broader player demands for prize-money and welfare reforms, USTA's 'fans love it' stance leaves the format debate unresolved heading into 2027.
Ask SkimNews
