Welcome to our channel the reason tennis star Arena sabala's US Open match began after midnight following upset fi day in Queens heren Sabal Lena's US Open Showdown with e Catarina alexandrova recorded the latest start in tournament history when the women took the court after midnight in Queens what preluded the ill-timed contest was an afternoon and evening filled with prolonged games and upsets at flushing's Arthur Ash Stadium Coco goof took three sets and over 2 hours to beat Alina fidelina meanwhile Francis TFO took over 4 hours and five sets to defeat Ben Shelton the ladder wrapped up just before 700 p.m. but venue staff needed more than an hour to clean and prepare the stadium for the night session the action resumed at 8.30 over an hour and a half after its scheduled start what followed was another lengthy contest between Novak jokovic and Alexi papin the encounter lasted 3 hours and 19 minutes and finished with jovic's stunning exit from the tournament after upsetting the defending Champion paparan had a quick interview on the court before sabalenka and alexandrova took to the floor as America yawn ready for bed the late start set a terrible precedent after the US Open new late finishing match policy was put in place the fact that they would start matches this late is astounding said Robbie Sika the medical director for the professional tennis players Association PTA there is no industry that allows things like this medicine airline travel transportation we protect folks this is incredible the US Tennis Association introduced the policy this year to soften the chances of players staying on the court during unreasonable hours in a statement on Saturday Morning USA said that the determent referee took into account several factors while deciding as to whether to move the match including the pace of play of the jokovic papyrin match as well as weather conditions fan accommodations and timing considerations the policy gives the organization the right to move a match to a different court if the matches before it pushes the start time Beyond 11:00 p.m. without giving players the chance to combat the decision with the grand stand available fans constantly glanced at their wrists wondering when sabalenka and alexandrova would be moved after winning 26 6 to1 6-2 sabinka revealed wanting to play on ash the biggest stadium in the sport but before the men Sabal Leno would hit her last ball at 1:48 a.m. tournament officials kept track of the time and tried tried to keep lines of communication open with the athletes however they delayed the decisions after jokovic won the third set and changed the rhythm of the slow starting match the end ultimately came at the bottom of the fourth when the Australian regained his composure and closed the game the pair starred in two lengthy matches in the past at the Australian Open and Wimbledon despite a precautionary past and having a backup Court available Salena and alexandrova kept their match where it had been planted meanwhile Alexander Zer and Thomas Martin a Chev battled until 2:35 a.m. on Louis Armstrong the second latest finish in tournament history behind jenx CER and Carlos alcaraz's 250m walk-off in 2022 no sport would allow this Sika said and frankly it's demeaning to the women that waited because they could just as easily have played on another Court and they would love to get the rest it's chain full thanks you for watching stay connected with us for more videos