Australian Open organisers called out for ‘absurd’ schedule with Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz at same time again
Australian Open organisers are coming under fire for another piece of “absurd” scheduling.
The schedule for the opening days is always a tricky affair with only a handful of primetime slots and every top player in action.
But with the first-round spread over three days for the first time this year, organisers had extra room to move.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Eyebrows were raised when the order of play for Monday night came out and top drawcards Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Nick Kyrgios were all scheduled to play at the same time.
The decision meant fans could only watch one of three superstars.
“Congrats to all the involved in this stupidity of a schedule,” prominent tennis journalist Jose Morgado said on Monday.
Morgado was left surprised again when the schedule for Wednesday came out.
Alcaraz, the third seed, will miss out on Rod Laver Arena again and instead play on Margaret Court Arena against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.
Djokovic was given centre court for his clash Portuguese qualifier Jamie Faria, but once again the two superstars are scheduled to play at the same time.
“Wow. Carlos Alcaraz will not play on Rod Laver Arena for his 2nd round match at the Aus Open, either. He is 2nd on Margaret Court Arena tomorrow. For the 2nd round in a row, Djokovic and Alcaraz will play at the exact same time. Absurd scheduling,” Morgado said.
Second seed Alexander Zverev has been centre court for the second time.
“Matches played on Rod Laver Arena in the first two rounds: Djokovic and Zverev 2, Faria 1, Alcaraz 0. That wasn’t on my bingo card for the Aus Open haha,” Morgado added.
Fans were left fuming at the schedule with many describing it as “awful” and “crazy”.
“How is Carlos on MCA again and Djokovic on RLA?! Who’s the higher seed here!!?!” one fan said.
“Why Carlos is still not on Rod Laver Arena ... this is ridiculous now,” another added.
“Scheduling Alcaraz and Djokovic overlapping for the second time in three days is soooo bad,” another said.
Originally published on 7NEWS Sport
