The US Open continues to attract major controversy after scheduling issues and umpire decisions wreak havoc at Flushing Meadows.
Players and fans have been subject to a whole range of new rules at the US Open this year.
After the two main build-up tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati saw a healthy amount of heated drama, US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster said she had confidence the fortnight would run smoothly.
Denis Shapovalov called out the ATP several times in the past month after he was originally defaulted in the semi-final of the Washington Open.
Jon Wertheim suggested the US Open and a ‘real issue’ forming as organisers ignored their own newly introduced scheduling rules the Aryna Sabalenka and Ekaterina Alexandrova broke the record for the latest ever start time on Friday.
Now, a 22-time major winner has added to the ongoing conversation, issuing the Open a stern warning.
Pam Shriver blasts US Open for ‘unacceptable’ treatment of players
The former American number one and 22-time major winner in doubles Pam Shriver took up a coaching role of Donna Vekic in 2022.
Shriver was therefore watching on as Vekic and Qinwen Zheng met once again after their Olympic final in the fourth round, with the Chinese player winning in three tight sets at 2:15am.
In a letter to the United States Tennis Association (USTA), Shriver suggested several possible changes to the scheduling, including earlier start times on Arthur Ashe Stadium and a shift to best-of-three sets for the men.
“Kudos to both Zheng and Donna for playing one of the best matches of the year in the middle of the night,” she said in quotes reported by The Telegraph.
“It’s an unacceptable situation that’s not humane for world-class athletes. The men playing five sets is the main culprit plus starting Ashe Stadium at 12pm, especially once matches get more competitive in the third round.”
Shriver’s letter followed an earlier intervention from 2012 US Open champion Andy Murray, who branded that the 2.15am finish as “a total mess”.
She added: “If US Open really wants to be champion of equality, then having [the] same format for both men and women is [the] only way to be truly equal starting in 2025.”
Despite the controversy, this year’s US Open has been uniquely thrilling
While drama like the poor umpire decision in Anna Kalinskaya’s defeat to Beatriz Haddad Maia has sought to waylay its hopes of a smooth fortnight, the US Open has not been overshadowed by such controversies.
With both defending champions dumped out emphatically, as well as Carlos Alcaraz’s shock third round defeat, the US Open has seen upsets galore.
The American’s have taken the initiative with four players left in the mens and women’s singles, as the USA’s 21-year wait for a male American grand slam champion looks close to ending.
With Jannik Sinner’s escaped drugs ban an ongoing storyline too, his on-court superiority has only built up the narrative further.
With just two rounds to go, a brand new US Open champion is guaranteed in both singles draw.
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