PARIS (AP) — Iga Swiatek provided a simple explanation for why she requested that the French Open not put her on the schedule during one of its night sessions, which often turn into way-past-midnight sessions. “I just like,” the No. 1-ranked player explained, “to sleep normally.” Catching the right amount of z’s is no easy task in Grand Slam tennis these days, for the athletes or those watching them compete. Current players, ex-players and the folks who run the sport tend to agree that it’s hardly ideal to carry on into the wee hours of the morning, something that keeps happening over and over. The latest example is defending champion Novak Djokovic’s five-set victory at Roland Garros against Lorenzo Musetti, a contest that began after 10:30 p.m. on Saturday and didn’t wrap up until after 3 a.m. on Sunday. Not great for the players. Or the fans on hand or trying to follow along from afar. Or the stadium workers. Or the on-court officials. The biggest problem? No one can get on the same page when it comes to finding a fix. |
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