Andy Roddick defends US Open scheduling after late finishes

Former champion Andy Roddick defended the US Open's best-of-five-set format following a record-late quarter-final finish on September 8. Ben Shelton defeated Carlos Alcaraz 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 in a match that concluded at 3:33 a.m. local time. The event faced criticism regarding the scheduling of lengthy matches during the tournament's final stages. Roddick argued that while late finishes are inconvenient, the demanding nature of the sport is central to its identity. He stated that critics have not offered viable solutions for managing the tournament's required match load. Potential alternatives discussed include earlier start times or moving marquee matches to Louis Armstrong Stadium to better manage the night sessions.

• 12:00 PMYahoo Sports — Andy Roddick defends the US Open as Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton finish quarter-final after 3am