Carlos Alcaraz has called for a halt to post-midnight finishes after his US Open loss which did not end until nearly 4 a.m.

The Spaniard voiced his complaint as he prepared with Team Europe in London at the Laver Cup teams event.

Alcaraz crashed out of the Open last month as he returned after nearly five months of wrist injury drama, dropping a quarter-final match at 3:33 a.m. to eventual New York finalist Ben Shelton.

“100 per cent,” the former No. 1 said when queried about the chaotic scheduling of US Open matches. 

“It is a shame that a match like this couldn’t reach a lot of people because they had to go to bed. Because they have to work the next day’s morning.”

He added: “We could see at the beginning of the match it was packed and then in the fourth set, fifth set, a lot of people stayed, which was great. But it is a shame those people had to leave because of the time.

“For an athlete finishing at 3.30am, it means we had to leave the courts on site at 4.30am almost. Then getting back to the hotel. You don’t get to bed until like 6.30am or 7am.

“To recover for the next match, it’s like the other plays with an advantage. I think it’s too much. They have got to do something. I am not saying 3.30am but finishing at 12am, it is too late already.”

As for this weekend at London’s O2, Alcaraz said he’s keen to get stuck into the special event organised by Roger Federer’s management company.

“Hopefully, right now, I am fresh mentally. Physically, I am feeling great. Hopefully I will do a great tournament and try to find my good tennis again sooner.”

Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz lost to Ben Shelton at US Open in a match ending at 3.33am – by ISFLtd

Holger Rune returned to action 11 months after last playing, with the Dane winning a Davis Cup rubber after his Achilles injury from last autumn.

The former world No. 4 now ranked 144, earned the Davis point at home against Bulgaria and said coming back to the courts had been a long-term struggle.

“It’s been, it’s been pretty brutal,” he said.

“Obviously a super unfortunate injury that happened 11 months ago, but we have trained a whole lot. I’ve gotten up every day and done my rehab to be able to stand here today.

“So I’m proud of myself, and this is the perfect way for me to start here in Denmark, in front of the best crowd in the world. So thank you so much for coming out and supporting.”

 Rune ruptured his left Achilles tendon in Stockholm last October and has been out ever since after surgery. 

He and his team were stuck in their Doha training base last March as the US attacked Iran, sparking the partial shutdown of flights due to the ongoing conflict. 

Main photo:- Holger Rune returns ©ATPTour.com

The WTA Finals will pitch a tent in North Carolina in late 2027 as the roving wrapup to the season settles in for a three-year-run in Charlotte.

The WTA revealed the venue on Wednesday, with the southern US due to stage three editions.

The event highlighting the top eight points finishers in singles and doubles for the season has had something of a “homeless” problem since the Covid  pandemic in 2020 when it was scrapped for that season after fulfilling only the first year of a multi-edition contract in Shenzhen, China..

This season’s conclusion will be staged at Indian Wells, the Californian venue for an ATP-WTA Masters 1000 played each March.

Fears are growing that the desert chill of a November night may mean unsuitably cold temperatures which could affect play.

The finals have been staged at five eclectic venues in the six editions since 2021:  Guadalajara, Mexico, Fort Worth, Texas, Cancun, Mexico and Riyadh, Saudi (twice).

The upcoming Indian Wells edition is just another place-holder for a Tour which is reportedly running low on corporate cash but struggles on.

The event will be played at the home of the NBAs Charlotte Hornets, from 2027-2029.

“The multi-year partnership will give the WTA greater opportunity to shape the experience and identity of one of its most important assets, deepen relationships with fans and commercial partners, and build a championship platform designed to grow alongside women’s sport,” a PR release read.

“The WTA Finals represents everything that makes women’s tennis extraordinary: the world’s best athletes, competing at the highest level, on a stage worthy of what they have accomplished,” said WTA chairwoman Valerie Camillo.

“We have an opportunity now to lead by building a championship experience that reflects just how far women’s sport has come and where it is going next.”

“We want to create the Super Bowl for women’s sports. And not just the competition, but an event that is the annual gathering for women’s tennis, women’s sports, and women’s sport business.”

Main photo: WTA Tour Finals were previously played at Shenzhen Bay Sports Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China