Carlos Alcaraz has called on tennis authorities to address late-night finishes after his recent US Open match ended in the early hours of the morning.
The Spanish star was speaking ahead of the 2026 Laver Cup in London, where he is set to represent Team Europe from September 25 to 27.
Alcaraz’s US Open title defence ended in the quarter-finals against American Ben Shelton in a match that finished at about 3:34 a.m. The contest lasted more than four hours and came during Alcaraz’s first tournament after spending more than four months away from competition because of a wrist injury.
The 23-year-old said extremely late finishes create difficulties for both players and spectators. He explained that fans may have to leave before the match ends because of work commitments the following morning, while players have limited time to recover before their next match.
Alcaraz said tennis organisers should consider measures that would prevent matches from regularly finishing deep into the night. He indicated that even midnight finishes can be difficult for professional players, especially when recovery and preparation for the next match are taken into account.
Despite the difficult timing of his US Open exit, Alcaraz said he was pleased with his return to competitive tennis. He reached the quarter-finals in New York after being sidelined for several months and said he finished the tournament without pain.
His next assignment is the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena in London. Team Europe will face Team World in the three-day competition, which begins on Friday, September 25.
Alcaraz will be part of a Team Europe squad that also includes Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, Flavio Cobolli, Rafael Jodar and Jakub Mensik. Team World includes Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, Learner Tien, Alexander Bublik, Brandon Nakashima and Francisco Cerundolo.
The Spaniard has also spoken about missing his rivalry with Jannik Sinner. The two have faced each other regularly in recent seasons, but injuries have limited their meetings this year. Alcaraz said their rivalry has pushed him to improve and expressed hope that their matches will return soon.
With his fitness improving and the Laver Cup ahead, Alcaraz now turns his attention to the final part of the 2026 season while continuing to call for changes that could improve conditions for players and fans.
