US Open 2026 Semi-finals: Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton Aim to Overcome Late Night Finishes
BBC Sport reports on the US Open 2026 semi-finals featuring Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton, who are dealing with the effects of late-night finishes.
Late Night Matches at Flushing Meadows
New York, known as the city that never sleeps, has lived up to its reputation this year at the US Open, with several matches starting and finishing well into the early hours. This raises questions about fairness among players who have to compete after minimal rest.
Top Seed Alexander Zverev:
"I’ve been to bed as late as 6:45am in the past week so I’m kind of a bit jet-lagged," said Zverev, referring to his schedule with three matches finishing past 1am.
Ben Shelton:
Shelton, who reached the semi-finals after a five-set thriller against Carlos Alcaraz that ended at 3:34 am, faces Frances Tiafoe in Friday’s night session (19:00 local time/00:00 BST, Saturday). He insists he will be "all right" despite two days off court.
Expert Insights on Sleep Deprivation
Matt Little, Andy Murray’s former strength and conditioning coach, explains the significant impact of sleep deprivation on performance:
"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."
He advises Shelton to prioritize hydration, nutrition, and naps to optimize his performance in the upcoming match.
Previous Controversial Finishes
This isn’t the first time late finishes have sparked controversy. At the 2023 Australian Open, Andy Murray played a match that ended at 4 am, managing only three hours of sleep before his next match.
