"But it does need to change its time between points": Former coach of Andy Murray doesn't believe scheduling needs changing and offers solution

Friday, 18 August 2023 at 22:30

Mark Petchey, former coach of Andy Murray, shared his thoughts on possible solutions to the scheduling issues on the ATP and WTA tours.

After the Canadian Open and amid the Cincinnati Open, several players have criticized the scheduling of nighttime matches. Tennis player Elena Rybakina experienced the consequences in Canada, where she finished a match close to 3 a.m. and then played the semifinal the next morning.

Furthermore, the tournament featured semifinals and finals on the same day. This week, the 2022 Wimbledon champion retired during the round of 16 match against Jasmine Paolini due to physical discomfort. Adding to Rybakina's criticism, Iga Swiatek also expressed her disagreement with matches being scheduled into the early hours of the morning.

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Former coach of Andy Murray, Mark Petchey, proposed a solution to the problem by suggesting shorter intervals between serves to reduce the overall match duration:

"Tennis doesn’t need to change the schedule but it does need to change its time between points, also known as “dead air,” Petchey said.

"Even, if you allow extra recovery time for the 9 plus points of 30 seconds, of which there were 38 [in the Rublev-Ruusuvuori match], you would have an extra 4 minutes of dead air but overall you would save 22 minutes a match and more in the men’s 5 setters obviously. Cumulatively, over the day, this would have a massive impact in not having so many late nights in tennis," he added.

Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇪🇸

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Too many late nights in #tennis But no change to the #usopen schedule this year This from tournament director Stacey Allaster:

2:06 AM · Aug 18, 2023

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The controversy over nighttime matches has been ongoing for some time, and former world No. 1 Andy Murray experienced it firsthand at the 2023 Australian Open. In that tournament, he faced Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round, and the match ended with a dramatic comeback by Murray, resulting in a score of 4-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 7-5.

The match concluded close to 4 a.m. after nearly six hours of intense play. As a result, Murray struggled with physical recovery and eventually fell in the third round against Spanish player Roberto Bautista Agut.

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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