The Idiocy of the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament

I love the U.S. Open. Most of it, anyway. As the final Grand Slam in the calendar year, it is usually a very big deal.

So I ask you, what value is there in having a big match played after midnight? How is this a good thing for the players, the fans, the ball boys and line judges, and the rest of the world as well?

When Roger Federer lost to Aussie John Millman in the Round of 16, their four set match (which could have easily gone 5 sets requiring another hour or more) started after 9:15 PM Eastern time, and finished just before 1:00 AM.

This is idiotic. Play tennis at a reasonable hour. 

Looking slow and tired on a sweltering night at the #USOpen , Federer double-faulted 10 times, failed to convert set points and lost, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3), in the fourth round to John Millman in a match that began Monday and concluded on Tuesday: https://t.co/2cjGd13Wdu pic.twitter.com/TjuRQzRu14

— TENNIS.com (@Tennis) September 4, 2018