"You're not going to think Coco is going to play for three-and-a-half hours": Craig Tiley calls out Coco Gauff amid Australian Open scheduling concerns
Tennis NewsTuesday, 30 January 2024 at 22:30
Craig
Tiley, the tournament director of the Australian Open, has spoken out about
Coco Gauff and addressed the criticism regarding matches that extended into the
early hours. The American player endured a match lasting over three hours in
the quarterfinals against Marta Kostyuk, securing victory with a score of
7-6(6), 6-7(3), 6-2.
The
duration of Gauff's match led to the Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz match
starting nearly two hours later than scheduled, resulting in a prolonged day
that concluded close to 1 am. Aryna Sabalenka and Daniil Medvedev were also
among those affected by the extended play.
Scheduling under scrutiny
Many have
criticized the schedules in Grand Slam tournaments, particularly the players
who require several hours post-matches for recovery and end up getting only a
few hours of sleep.
The
director was asked if they are willing to implement a curfew similar to
Wimbledon, where it was determined that matches cannot continue past 11 pm and
must necessarily conclude in the following day's daylight session.
Tournament
director Craig Tiley commented on ABC that there are aspects that are difficult
to control: "We can't start before 7 pm because of the news in Australia,
so you rule that out," he said.
“And one
thing that we can never do is predict the length of a match,” he said about the
long duration in Gauff – Kostyuk match. “You're not going to think Coco is
going to play for three-and-a-half hours. So we also try and put schedules on
what we think our matches will go to."
Potential changes
Tournament
director Craig Tiley commented on ABC that there are aspects that are difficult
to control: “We can't start before 7 pm because of the news in Australia so you
rule that out,” he said
“Also, as a
sport we need to consider - again - not having lets. Having lets added 15 hours
to the tournament across all events.”
“So there
will be tweaks next year, but you're still going to get that one-off crazy
situation where a match finishes at three in the morning,” he concluded.
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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