US Open Semifinals: Zverev and Shelton Face Fatigue After Late-Night Runs

Two of the men’s semi-finalists at the 2026 US Open, Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton, are dealing with significant fatigue after their quarterfinal matches concluded deep into the night, raising fresh questions about scheduling fairness at the tournament.

Zverev, the top seed, went to bed as late as 6:45 a.m. this past week after three of his five matches ended past 1 a.m. The German player admitted feeling jet-lagged and noted the contrast between the New York schedule and other events.

“I feel like I’m playing the Australian Open in New York right now,” Zverev said. His upcoming Friday semi-final against Karen Khachanov will be his first daytime match of the US Open.

Khachanov, meanwhile, has had a relative advantage. His quarterfinal against Alexander Blockx finished shortly before 7 p.m. local time on Wednesday, and he has not played beyond midnight at this tournament. This gives him more recovery time before facing Zverev.

On the other side of the bracket, unseeded American Ben Shelton completed his five-set victory over Carlos Alcaraz at 3:34 a.m. on Wednesday. He is set to face fellow American and 11th seed Frances Tiafoe in the Friday night session. Tiafoe wrapped up his quarterfinal win over Alex Michelsen around 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

Matt Little, former strength and conditioning coach for Andy Murray, emphasized the physical toll of such disruptions. “The advantage of the opponent who has played earlier in the day will be big – they’ve had that full evening’s rest and a good night’s sleep,” Little told BBC Sport. He referenced Murray’s own experience at the 2023 Australian Open, where a 4 a.m. finish left the former world number one with only three hours of sleep before his next match.

Little suggested that Shelton will need to manage his recovery carefully, relying on naps, proper nutrition, and hydration to optimize his performance against Tiafoe.

The issue has drawn criticism from tennis legends. Martina Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam singles champion, stated, “Something has got to give. This is not OK and it is not normal.” The latest finish in US Open history occurred just last week when Venus Williams and Sofia Kenin began their first-round match at 12:13 a.m.

While some view the late-night drama as part of the city’s energy, previous reforms have not fully addressed the problem. Following Murray’s complaint about the Australian Open, that tournament reduced its day-session matches on main courts from three to two. Additionally, ATP and WTA rules prevent tour matches from starting after 11 p.m., but these regulations do not apply to Grand Slam events.

Proposals to start night sessions earlier have met resistance from television executives and logistical concerns regarding fan attendance. Another suggestion—reducing men’s Slam matches to three sets—has faced strong opposition from players like Tiafoe, who defended the traditional five-set format as essential to the sport’s history.