The late show: were Alcaraz and tennis fans victims of US Open scheduling?

In yet another late-night epic that concluded just short of 3am on Thursday, Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the semi-finals of the US Open with a thrilling five-set comeback victory over another young star, Jannik Sinner. It was a match full of abrupt momentum shifts, remarkable shot-making, stellar sportsmanship and an extraordinary high level of energy that those in attendance were lucky to be part of.

But for many millions of American tennis fans watching on the east coast – and west coast for that matter – the riveting conclusion came too late for their tired eyes. With a return to school and work for many, after enjoying the last fleeting days of summer, it was too tough an ask of fans to stay up well past midnight yet again. And that’s not to mention those who stayed to watch in the stadium, some of whom had to navigate New York’s public transport system in the early hours of the morning, which is never an enticing prospect.

And herein lies a dilemma that the US Open has faced since night sessions were first introduced in 1975. The initiation of night play was a very welcome change, as it allowed people who actually worked or went to school to be able to view their favorite sport after their daytime responsibilities were done. Being able to watch tennis at night was yet another reason the sport exploded in the United States in the 1970s.

Yet, while the nocturnal atmosphere undoubtedly ratchets up the energy and there’s a special quality to the matches under the lights in Gotham, this has nonetheless become a double-edged sword for those players who have to play consecutive matches late at night. And such is the case with Alcaraz in the last two rounds. And what makes it even more of an issue is that his semi-final