Australian Open tennis midnight matches? Coco Gauff cannot bear it

Only a more nocturnal creature than Coco Gauff would want a late-night match at the Australian Open.

US tennis star Coco Gauff shares a quiet moment with a true blue Aussie fan on day three of the Australian Open in Melbourne. Picture: AFP

Coco Gauff is the US Open champion. She’s playing her last major championship as a teenager. She thinks late-night matches at the Australian Open are a health ­hazard to young and old. How much can a koala bear?

Gauff has rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous since setting New York City alight by winning her national championship last year.

Celebrities and luminaries from Justin Bieber to the Obamas flocked to her matches. Serena Williams is her buddy.

She’s become one of the most recognisable athletes in America and an exciting new face of the sport. Which is likely to make life complicated for her at Melbourne Park.

The night sessions feature the superstars. One men’s and one women’s singles match are staged from 7pm. Sometimes it’s ladies first, sometimes the blokes barge in. The problem for the women is that if that men have the honours and indulge in a marathon encounter, it can be close to midnight by the time the women even get started. Unbearable.

Defending Open champion Aryna Sabalenka made a truly ­bizarre and exhausting return to Melbourne Park on the opening night. She began her title defence just a couple of ticks of the clock before 12am.

Far from ideal for fans, umpires, ball kids and especially Sabalenka. Sooner or later, Gauff will be on the night shift – but for now she’s struck it lucky. She plays fellow American Caroline Dolehide on Margaret Court Arena at about 2pm on Wednesday.

You’d only fancy a midnight start if you were more nocturnally inclined – like Billy the southern koala she rubbed noses with on the player balcony on Tuesday. What was the routine there? An ice bath and sauna then greeting the fauna?

“If I’m going to play at night, I always would like to play the first night match,” Gauff said.

“Typically, the longest women’s match is three hours. The men can be a minimum of two or three – two hours is fast.

“With an average match, it’s more like three-and-a-half hours. It’s a tough thing because, yes, night is probably our prime time and we can optimise viewers, but also we have to protect the players’ health. It’s a fine line.”

Gauff will end up playing prime time night matches. She’s too big a drawcard to stay in the matinee sessions. How late will she have to play? Who nose?

Novak Djokovic gets big TV ratings and puts bums on seats, and so he receives a lot of 7pm starts. He has a rare late show on Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday against the explosive Australian Alexei Popyrin, but normally the King of Melbourne Park receives top billing and the preferable starting time.

“Novak has won this tournament more times than I can count.” Gauff said. “You’re probably putting him on the prime slot, which is the 7pm slot. I get both sides of it.

“I’m going to always go for the players’ side, but I also can understand the media and the marketing and optimising the money side. So, it’s tough.”