US Open Winner Andy Roddick Defends Late Finishes Amid Criticism

US Open winner Ben Shelton's five-set victory over Carlos Alcaraz has sparked criticism about the tournament's late-night schedule. Retired American tennis star Andy Roddick has weighed in on the issue, defending the Grand Slam's late-night session format. Roddick acknowledged that a five-hour match can test viewers' patience, but emphasized that every match goes to a tiebreaker except for one. He noted that getting 25,000 people out of the stadium responsibly is a significant challenge. Roddick also acknowledged the practical case for a shorter format, but emphasized that tennis is a sport that values long-form matches. He cited the example of Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz's five-set match, which he described as 'the hardest thing on earth. ' Roddick's comments come ahead of the US Open final, where Ben Shelton will meet Frances Tiafoe on center court at Arthur Ashe Stadium.