Australian Open considering major tennis revamp after Ben Shelton vs Carlos Alcaraz backlash

Joseph McBrideWed, September 9, 2026 at 5:22 PM UTC

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The Australian Open is considering shorter matches and changes to point scoring -Credit:2026 Getty Images

The Australian Open is considering shortening tennis matches and potentially revising the points-scoring system, a revolutionary change that could see the US Open follow suit as organizers face increased backlash for its scheduling.

There have been several late finishes at the US Open this year, with fans leaving Arthur Ashe Stadium at approximately 2 a.m. during the early rounds. However, things escalated during the men's and women's quarterfinals, with four stunning matches going the distance on Tuesday night.

The final match saw Ben Shelton upset Carlos Alcaraz in five sets, with the battle ending at approximately 3:33 a.m. ET. While it was a blockbuster match, the scheduling has led to increased backlash with fans campaigning for a major change, and the Australian Open could experiment.

• Ben Shelton victory speech left Trinity Rodman upset after US Open thriller vs. Carlos Alcaraz

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Like the US Open, the Australian Open is a hard-court Grand Slam with a party atmosphere and late finishes. The French Open and Wimbledon are seen as more prestigious majors with longstanding traditions, and play is not allowed beyond 11 p.m. at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

That's not the case at the US Open, meaning that fans are forced to stay up until the early hours of the morning to see the action. Those in attendance at Arthur Ashe Stadium then face a late journey home, with thousands of fans requesting Ubers with inflated surge pricing at 3:40 a.m.

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Shelton referenced the late finish after beating Alcaraz in five sets, as he said on court, "I always say that this is the greatest sports city in the world, I say that this is the greatest stadium in the world. I’m just hoping that my best friend and my sister over there don’t have to be at work at 6 a.m. in three hours."

Earlier in the competition, Venus Williams also complained about the start time as her first-round match against Sofia Kenin didn't begin until after midnight. "I just don’t know any other sport where you have to start that late," Williams said. "I definitely think there’s room for improvement there."

Ben Shelton's win over Carlos Alcaraz finished at 3:33 a.m. ET, with the match lasting 4 hours and 28 minutes -Credit:2026 Getty Images

While the US Open could start the evening session earlier, or spread high-profile matches across other large courts, the Australian Open is considering a more drastic change. Tennis Australia CEO Andrew Abdo said on Monday that Grand Slams may consider shorter matches to appeal to a younger audience.

"Maybe in the future, Slams at different rounds or at different lengths of duration. Maybe we’re not playing best-of-five all the way through. Maybe the point-scoring system changes," Abdo said at SportNXT.

Abdo is aware that tennis "purists" won't be a fan of the potential changes, but believes that tennis must move with the times to remain successful. "If you’re not thinking about that product in a way that’s contemporary, in a way that’s going to connect with young people, then I think you’re going to be left behind," Abdo said.

Alcaraz was tested against Shelton during the grueling encounter -Credit:2026 Getty Images

Tennis fans adore watching a five-set thriller as neutrals, but matches can continue through the night at the Australian Open and the US Open. While the possible changes may face pushback from fans, even tennis icon Novak Djokovic has suggested that the sport could improve with modern-day tweaks.

During an interview with Nick Knows Ball at Fanatics Fest in July, Djokovic said, "We should change the format of the scoring. Not play up to six games a set, play up to four, possibly no ad."

Djokovic then said that matches could remain in a best-of-five format but be completed within a two-hour window. Shorter matches could also address complaints about fatigue and injuries, regardless of the start/finish times.

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Source: “AOL Sports”