Tennis is a physically demanding sport that requires ample recovery time! The highest levels of skills, strategy, and endurance are required to simply progress through one match. While viewers may love watching players move up and down the courts, what happens behind the scenes in terms of recovery is coming to light. Although day sessions provide players ample time to recover, night finishes are often challenging. American tennis star Coco Gauff spoke about it earlier during the French Open, and now, the Serbian former tennis player Ana Ivanovic echoes the same.

Speaking about late-night finishes, Gauff had earlier stated that it’s “not healthy” for players. What does the former world number one think about this issue? During an interview with the Gazzetta, Ana Ivanovic said, “Night sessions are super exciting for fans and players, but starting very late can be really difficult for recovery and the body clock. It would be helpful to establish a balance between night sessions and at the same time a limit on the time spent which a match could begin.”

Coco Gauff spoke about this same issue after seeing one of Novak Djokovic’s matches end by 3:08 am during the French Open. She highlighted the fact that playing out their last points doesn’t mean the end of the day for the players. Press conferences, showering, eating, and recovery processes are followed after matches end. “That’s probably not going to bed until 5 am at the earliest, maybe 6 or even 7 am. I definitely think it’s not healthy and maybe not fair for those who have to play late because it does ruin your schedule,” said Gauff.

Previously, the ATP and WTA released a joint statement to highlight a new strategy to tackle the issue of late-night finishes in the racquet sport. According to the new rules, there’s now a limitation in the number of evening matches and it also prevents any match from starting after 11 pm. However, the Grand Slam tournaments have now become an exception to this.

We’ve seen several late-night finishes this year at the French Open as well, but among all the other major events, Wimbledon is an exception. It has a curfew rule that prevents matches from continuing past 11 pm. The grass slam organizers implemented a curfew on late-night finishes as they have drawn flak from several players in the last few months.

“I don’t like late-night sessions” – Several tennis stars join Coco Gauff to vent out their frustrations on the same issue

Although Novak Djokovic tried not to criticize the authorities much on this issue, he was heard saying, “I think some things could’ve been handled different way.” Even on the WTA, Iga Swiatek and Mirra Andreeva addressed the same issue. Swiatek mentioned that she was always one of the players who felt that matches should start a little bit earlier. Andreeva thinks it’s pretty much “tough” to play a match during one’s regular bedtime.

Carlos Alcaraz gave a blunt admission on this issue, saying “Well, for me, I don’t like late-night sessions but not for the crowd I think.” Reverberating Gauff, he added, “For the crowd that session is special. But we end so late, press conference, physio, ice bath, we have to do a lot of things that are really important things to recover for the next matches.”

Late-night finishes have troubled players in the past, with one tournament finally listening to their concerns. Do you think all the rest of the major tournaments should also look into this matter seriously now?