‘They’re useless’: Frustrated tennis fans take aim at Australian Open schedule

Frustrated tennis fans who paid up to $800 for Australian Open night session tickets waited almost two hours to take their seats.

Frustrated tennis fans with night session tickets for Rod Laver Arena were left waiting almost two hours to take their seats on Tuesday. Picture: news.com.au

Frustrated tennis fans with night session tickets for Rod Laver Arena were left waiting almost two hours to take their seats on Tuesday – begging Australian Open organisers to take action.

“It’s frustrating. I thought extending the tournament was to take the strain off late night matches but it obviously hasn’t worked,” one man told news.com.au.

“They’re useless. After all these years they should have got it right. It’s been long enough to figure out how to do scheduling,” another fed-up woman said.

As Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz – scheduled to play in the afternoon – played a fourth set after 8pm, tennis fans with night session tickets costing upwards of $800 were slumped against any wall they could find outside the arena, hoping the marathon match wouldn’t turn into a five-setter.

The night session was scheduled for 7.15pm but Barbora Krejcikova and Aryna Sabalenka didn’t take to the court until after 9pm, the first of two matches scheduled for the night session.

Frustrated tennis fans watch Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz play on the TV screens outside Rod Laver Arena. Picture: news.com.au

They waited almost two hours to take their seats for the night session on Tuesday. Picture: news.com.au

One couple who paid $450 each for tickets said it was their first time splurging on night session tickets after doing a day pass each year, and they might not even get to use them.

“If this goes to five sets we will have to leave,” Trevor said. “Some of us have got work tomorrow.”

He said they wouldn’t do it again and would rather take a day off and come during the day.

Susanne said organisers shouldn’t be “trying to squeeze” all the big matches on Rod Laver Arena, and the scheduling needed a serious rethink.

“Maybe split the venues, so they have one in Margaret Court and one in Rod Laver,” she suggested.

She wasn’t the only one. Many fans told news.com.au they would like to see the Australian Open spread headlining matches across the arenas or start play earlier in the day.

Play usually kicks off at 11am each day, but the first main draw matches of the day on Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena didn’t start until 1pm on Tuesday. Margaret Court Arena did not have a night session scheduled.

Novak Djokovic’s victory against Taylor Fritz was an almost four hour match. Picture: Paul Crock / AFP

While waiting to be able enter, members of the crowd outside could be heard discussing how late they were willing to stay.

One couple told news.com.au their cut-off was midnight because of work the next day.

Another frustrated woman who had flown from New Zealand for the tournament said she had paid for flights, accommodation, tickets “and can’t even stay and see it all”.

“I won’t be staying until 4am in the morning,” Meg said, planning to stay for only the start of the second match. “Stop these late matches, I feel really sorry for the players.”

Caitlin and Lisa, who flew down from Sydney for the two matches, said they had been discussing how much coffee they could have to stay for the end, but admitted they probably wouldn’t make it.

Sisters Janene and Sue said they were “sticking it out” but were scratching their heads over why they were in this situation in the first place, predicting a 2am finish.

“Why aren’t they starting at 9am if it’s cooler, or even 10am, it doesn’t make sense,” Sue said.

“How they ever thought the night session would ever start on time … expecting tight matches.”

Night session started more than an hour a half ago, why are they doing a full-length interview right now?

The #AusOpen is utterly unserious when it comes to scheduling. https://t.co/QOTGilyl9e

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 23, 2024

Sabalenka and Krejčíková were reportedly asked by organisers if they’d like to shift to Margaret Court Arena, and they declined.

Wow. Barbara Schett reports they actually asked the women if they wanted to move to Margaret Court Arena earlier and they obviously said no.

Let's see if Sinner-Rublev end up playing on Margaret Court Arena if the woman go too long... https://t.co/34mkKaZwSR

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 23, 2024

After his 7-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 loss to Djokovic, Fritz said he had been talking to players about the late night matches, including Daniil Medvedev, whose second round clash against Emil Ruusuvuori didn’t come to an end until 3.40am last week.

“It just screws up your whole clock,” Fritz said, adding “I pray for those guys”, in reference to Sinner and Rublev.

“I get it, matches go long some days. Like, today in particular, my match was long, the match before us was really long,” he said. “But yeah, there’s got to be something they can do to where people aren’t playing until 2am/3am, because I don’t think people really fully understand how much time we actually have to spend doing stuff after we finish playing as far as, like, ice bath, treatment with physios, massage, all this stuff.

“If you finish at 2am, there is no chance I’m going to sleep until 5/6am.”

Daniil Medvedev played until 3.40am last week. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Taylor Fritz, whose match held up the night session on Tuesday, said something needed to be done. Picture: Paul Crock / AFP

Last year, Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis and Brit Andy Murray played an almost six-hour match – the second-latest match in Australian Open history.

This year, the Australian Open decided to start the tournament a day earlier to avoid it happening again.

“We’ve listened to feedback from the players and fans and are excited to deliver a solution to minimise late finishes while continuing to provide a fair and equitable schedule on the stadium courts,” Australian Open director Craig Tiley said in October.

“The additional day will achieve this, benefiting scheduling for fans and players alike. The first round will now be played over three days instead of two, also giving fans an extra day of unbelievable tennis, entertainment, food and family fun.

“Every year our team works hard to bring fans an event that feels new and exciting, and this is another opportunity to grow what is already the biggest annual sporting event in the world in January.”

Originally published as ‘They’re useless’: Frustrated tennis fans take aim at Australian Open schedule