MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic has backed calls from Andy Murray for the Australian Open to contemplate altering its schedule early in tournaments to keep away from any extra 4 a.m. finishes, with the nine-time Melbourne champ declaring “one thing must be addressed” to make sure gamers are in one of the best situation doable for Slam tennis.
Murray and Thanasi Kokkinakis did not start their match till 10:20 p.m. on Thursday evening as a result of the day session on Margaret Courtroom Enviornment had run lengthy. Following his third-round loss to Roberto Bautista Agut, the Brit stated there have been “some easy issues” which may very well be achieved to repair the difficulty.
“Ending matches at 4 within the morning is not good for the gamers. I might additionally argue it is not good for the game, anybody concerned in it,” he stated.
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“I believe the US Open went to enjoying two matches within the day session. That may cease the day matches operating into the evening session beginning too late. I believe that is fairly a easy one which you could possibly have a look at. You’d nonetheless get high quality matches through the day. The individuals who purchased floor passes would get to see extra of the highest gamers, which might be glorious for them.
“I believe if you happen to did that, you could possibly additionally doubtlessly convey the evening periods barely earlier, as effectively, like 6:00 or 6:30pm. That point, these few hours, could make a distinction to the gamers. I believe that is one thing that is most likely value, yeah, contemplating shifting forwards.
“I am certain if you happen to went and spoke to some sleep consultants and sports activities scientists, et cetera, the folks that really actually know what’s necessary for athletes to get well, they’d let you know that sleep is the primary factor, that that is a very powerful factor.”
Later, Djokovic, co-founder of the Skilled Tennis Gamers Affiliation and former ATP participant council president, stated “one thing must be addressed I suppose by way of the schedule after what we have seen this yr.”
“I believe that gamers’ enter is all the time necessary for event group,” he stated.
“Whether or not it is decisive, we all know that it is not as a result of it comes all the way down to what the TV broadcasters wish to have. That is the last word choice maker.
“I might agree with Murray’s factors. I believe we now have days when the day periods go longer, however most likely extra days statistically in common the place they end, say, 5:00pm, 6:00pm max, and you can begin evening session an hour earlier a minimum of. I agree with him.
“For the group, it is entertaining, it is thrilling, to have matches midnight, 1, 2, 3:00 a.m. For [players], it is actually grueling. Even if you happen to undergo and win, prevail in these type of matches, you continue to have to come back again. You might have your sleeping cycle, rhythm disrupted utterly, not sufficient time actually to get well for one more five-setter.”
Earlier within the week, Australian Open event director Craig Tiley stated the truth of enjoying so many matches early within the event all the time throws up variables, and that marathon matches of that nature would all the time have completed late.
“Having a match of almost six hours is extremely uncommon, and it doesn’t matter what time Andy and Thanasi’s match would have began, it will have been a protracted match into the early hours of the morning (when it completed),” he advised The Herald Solar on Friday.