A match that starts just before midnight is going to acquire instant cult status. The early morning ritual creating a surreal atmosphere within the Rod Laver Arena, as if a bond was being forged between thousands of strangers, forever intrinsically linked by the unique experience. Those fans – the ones that stuck around - have a lifelong memory, while the match has a nice by-line, however it is insane that a match of such marquee value kicks off near midnight.
Scrub the marquee part, it is diabolical that any match would start at such a ridiculous time.
Days earlier, Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley was quoted in the Herald Sun, signalling the new ‘11:00’ cut off. No match would start after 11pm, no, make that 11:15, just to be safe.
Nice sentiment, Craig.
A problem that was created by Roger Federer, of all people, could have so easily been averted. With the night session delayed until 9:30pm because of Federer’s struggles against Janko Tipsarevic, it was clear that the two match program was a recipe for calamity.
Unless you run the Rod Laver Arena coffee stand.
Venus Williams and Sania Mirza, the entrée to the main event (sorry ladies, we do live in a world of equality, but Venus/Mirza compared to Hewitt/Baghdatis is not even worthy of entrée status. Hors d’oeuvre…maybe), were asked if they’d kindly move to Vodafone Arena or play tomorrow to help out. They said no.
Hang on, stop. Asked?
Boy, when the players call the Australian Open the ‘friendly slam’, they’re not kidding.
So there you have it. Fans didn’t get out of Rod Laver Arena until after 4:30am because Venus and a player most people have never heard of wanted their little slice of glory.
How does that happen?
Can you imagine this flying at the US Open? Could you see CBS or USA Network allowing their key product for the evening to be delayed until the wee hours so to cede to the whims of a couple of players?
A strong decision needed to be made by Tiley. Federer’s match was always going into overtime once he fell behind two sets to one. A call could have been made then and there. Hewitt/Baghdatis simply had to go ahead. Too much had been invested on promotion.
Tiley needed to tell the girls that the tournament comes first and if you have a problem, take it up with Roger.
Aside from Venus and Mirza, the rest of the world suffered. Missing out were the fans who justifiably left the arena before the finish. Most of the nation will only see the match in highlights packages, while Hewitt is the biggest loser of all. A 4:35am finish means a 5am press conference (at best), with warm-downs and recovery extending his time in the precinct even further. With adrenaline running (and that Coke he sipped on just before finishing Baghdatis off), who knows what time Hewitt would have hit the hay?
This hasn’t been a good week for Tiley. The new boss of the Open thought the biggest issue he’d face would be Plexicushion. He wasn’t counting on overzealous police creating an international scene that frankly wasn’t necessary, while questions about losing the tournament to Asia have come out of the blue. This morning’s debacle has poor management stamped all over it.
And if you think 4:35am is a ridiculous time to finish a tennis match, consider this:
Imagine of Venus and Mirza went to a third set?
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Dan, your spelling may be lousy, but I agree with your sentiment!!
Vodafone Arena was available. It should have been used; whether by the girls or the guys, I don’t care much.
Those who watched it on TV or stayed in the arena can now make a t-shirt to say they lasted the distance, but this should never happen again.
CK.