"Can we do better than this?" – Pam Shriver calls for Australian Open scheduling changes after doubles final issues

Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova secured the women's doubles title in Melbourne with a 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-3 victory over Hsieh Su-Wei and Jelena Ostapenko. The final was competitive despite challenging conditions, as the sunlight and shadows affected players' visibility.

The shadows were particularly problematic during the late afternoon, making it difficult for players to track the ball. This led tennis legends Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver to express concerns about the scheduling and conditions of matches in the Australian Open.

"That sounds nice when you say it," Siniakova said. "I'm enjoying it. I love to play doubles, so I'm thrilled to say I have all this success, but it sounds amazing."

For Townsend, this victory was more than just a title. "This is super-special to me," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "The last time I played on this court, I was 15. I won the juniors here; that was the kickstart." Her journey from winning the junior title to securing the women's doubles championship was a testament to her growth and determination, resonating with many.

"Being here is so special to me because this tournament was where my dream began. I never imagined playing on this stage when I was in the juniors, so to be holding this trophy 13 years later is incredible."

This was the victors' reaction after securing a fantastic win Down Under. It wasn't an easy victory, as the sunlight affected the vision of everyone involved in the game and those watching. Shriver took to X to express her concerns about the sunlight issues.

"Congratulations to doubles winners, but can we do better than this when roofs are available to help with shadows? Doubles viewers on TV deserve better than this."

Her former partner backed her up.

"Amen to that!"

Many have called for the Australian Open to change its schedule, and Shriver has also criticized it. However, tournament director Craig Tiley has stated that no changes will be made for 2026.

"The way I assess the tournament is by listening to fan feedback, player feedback, and our team's input – and once again, it's been exceptional," he said.

"So from the fans' point of view, yes, we've had a record crowd through the gates.

"We don’t focus on the numbers; we focus on the quality of the experience, and all our customer satisfaction scores are equal to or better than last year.

"And on the players' side, again, if it's any indication, they thank us publicly, they thank us privately, and the number of notes I have or emails or WhatsApp messages saying 'Thank you again,' this is by far the best tournament."

Even though the director has made his stance clear, it will be interesting to see if anything changes for next year's competition.