The US Open has expanded from two weeks to three, causing concern among tennis players who complain about the packed schedule. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
This year, Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz began their title defenses only a week after the tournament started. Previously, the tournament lasted two weeks, now it extends into a third. U.S. Tennis Association CEO Craig Tiley was asked about plans to further expand the tournament.
Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk, the 11th seed, is skeptical about the change: "I just hope they will not start on Saturday at some point, you know? And then on Friday and on Thursday, Tuesday, Wednesday. So I hope this is it."
Kostyuk was one of the winners on Sunday, and winners get two days off before their next matches. Sabalenka and Alcaraz started Monday, the opening day, and top-seeded Alexander Zverev and 2023 champion Coco Gauff are scheduled Tuesday on the final day of a first round that until last year was completed over two days.
Canadian Denis Shapovalov said: "So they're finding ways to extend the tournaments, which I think is tough for the players."
Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 runner-up, said she would enjoy the extra day off after her victory Sunday to spend time with her sister, who is in New York with her.
Venus Williams bowed out of her 26th US Open with a first-round loss to Sofia Kenin. Novak Djokovic lost in the opening round of the US Open for the first time, falling in five sets to Mariano Navone.