The Australian Open is reportedly considering a potential switch-up in the scheduling of the men’s and women’s singles finals. The idea behind this move is to allow fans the opportunity to watch both finals in their entirety, without any disruptions.
According to an article by AAP, Tennis Australia is contemplating the possibility of holding the men’s final on the last Saturday night of the tournament, and the women’s final on the last Sunday night. While this adjustment may not take place until 2025, the CEO of Tennis Australia, Craig Tiley, has expressed a keen interest in exploring this option.
The traditional order of tennis tournaments places the women’s final first, followed by the men’s final. However, this setup can create complications, particularly when the men’s final extends late into Sunday night. A recent example of this was when Jannik Sinner mounted a comeback to defeat Daniil Medvedev, resulting in the match concluding well after 11pm local time. This inevitably led to many fans on the east coast having to retire for the night early due to work commitments the next morning.
Shifting the men’s final to Saturday could potentially resolve the issue of viewers having to miss the end of the match due to work obligations the following day. Additionally, the women’s final typically only runs for a maximum of three sets, meaning it is likely to conclude at a more reasonable time, perhaps by 10:30pm at the latest.
Furthermore, this change could be viewed as a significant step towards gender equality in tennis. The current practice of scheduling the men’s final as the ultimate event perpetuates the idea that the men’s game is inherently more important, regardless of the actual players involved.
It is worth noting that Tennis Australia would not require approval from the ATP or WTA to implement this change, but the organization would take the players’ viewpoints into consideration. One major concern raised is the potential logistical challenges that could arise earlier in the tournament, given the longer recovery period male players need after five-set matches, compared to the shorter matches typically played in the women’s event.
It has been suggested that extending the tournament to 15 days, with a Sunday start, may help alleviate some of the scheduling issues that could arise from this proposed change. This would allow for greater flexibility in managing the flow of matches and recovery time for the players.
In conclusion, the idea of swapping the days for the men’s and women’s finals at the Australian Open brings to light important considerations regarding gender equality and viewer experience. While the decision may not be immediate, it is apparent that the tournament organizers are actively seeking ways to enhance the overall experience for players and fans alike.