Australian Open chief responds to Andy Murray criticism over tournament rules

20 January 2023 , 22:45

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Murray said his five-set match against Thanasi Kokkinakis ended in a 'farce' due to the 4am finish (Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Australian Open chief Craig Tiley insists there is "no need" to change the contentious tournament schedule that saw Andy Murray reach the third round just after 4am.

Murray completed one of the greatest victories in his incredible career as he fought back to beat Thanasi Kokkinakis in a five hour and 45 minute marathon in Melbourne.

But the gruelling spectacle went on long into the early hours of the morning after the epic second round clash began at 10:20pm on the Margaret Court Arena.

And the heroic Murray was left incandescent with officials after he was refused a toilet break in the fourth set as the duo eventually slogged it out until 4:05am.

There is no protocol in place to implement a cut-off point for such late finishes, and Murray labelled the scheduling as a 'farce' in the immediate moments after the match.

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"I don't know who it's beneficial for," Murray said on court. "We come here after the match and that's what the discussion is, rather than it being like, 'epic Murray-Kokkinakis match'. It ends in a bit of a farce."

John McEnroe shared Murray's view criticising organisers, claiming it was 'absurd' that the match went on so late, suggesting the lack of flexibility in the rules unfairly hinders the Briton's chances in the next round.

But Tennis Australia CEO Tiley claims that while a review will be made into such late finishes, the current schedule is necessary for the Grand Slam to run smoothly.

"At this point there is no need to alter the schedule,” the tournament director told Australia’s Channel Nine.

Australian Open chief Tiley insists changes do not need to be made to tournament scheduling (AFP via Getty Images)

“We always look at it when we do the debrief like we do every year. At this point we’ve got to fit the matches in the 14 days. You don’t have many options.

“It was an epic match and when you schedule a match like that just before 10 in the evening, you’re not expecting it to go close to six hours.

“When you have 25 sessions, two weeks, hundreds of thousands of people coming through the gate, all the best players – 500 of them – in the world here, you’re going to have those moments.”

Ben Parsons