MELBOURNE, Australia — The 2026 Australian Open opened with a scheduling debate, as No. 28 seed Emma Raducanu voiced concerns about the potential for a late-night start to her first-round match, highlighting an ongoing tension in Grand Slam scheduling.

Raducanu, slated to play Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the final match on Margaret Court Arena following a men’s match, expressed frustration in her pre-tournament press conference. "It is very difficult to be scheduling women’s matches after a potential five-set match," she said, referencing recent U.S. Open history where women's matches have started after midnight due to lengthy men's contests.

While acknowledging that complaining "doesn't lead to change," the 2021 U.S. Open champion took a pragmatic approach, adjusting her preparation with a 9 p.m. practice session to acclimate to night conditions. "It's a new experience, something that I need to learn to do," she said.

The scheduling practice reflects the tournament's stance on equal conditions for equal pay, but it draws criticism for being unfriendly to both players and fans. A lengthy opening match can lead to empty seats for the second match and forces the following players into a cycle of warming up and cooling down as they await an uncertain start time.

Tournament organizers, who have tightened court assignments to combat betting patterns, did not immediately comment on the decision. The move to a 15-day format last year was intended to alleviate scheduling pressure, yet the issue of late finishes persists.

As Raducanu prepares for her "good learning step," her comments underscore a broader conversation about optimizing the fan experience and player readiness in an era of increasingly marathon Grand Slam matches.