Roger Federer may be the picture of grace and timelessness for many, but he has never been afraid to voice his opinion either.
That even includes sharing his frustration with lines of questioning, with 2019 being one such example where he was particularly irked.
After all, he was coming off the back of a comfortable victory over Dan Evans at the US Open, dispatching him in one hour and 20 minutes.
However, there were questions over the timing of their clash, given the Brit had not left Flushing Meadows until about 6 pm local time on the Thursday, before facing Roger Federer at noon on Friday.
It was these questions which left the Swiss superstar frustrated.
When Roger Federer complained about questioning the US Open schedule
Speaking after the match, he emphatically claimed: “I don’t remember that I asked for something.
“I know there was a question about having a preference. But that doesn’t mean ‘Roger asks, Roger gets’.
“I have heard this too often now. I’m sick and tired of it, that apparently I call the shots. The tournament and the TV stations do.
“We can give our opinion. That’s what we do. But I’m still going to walk out even if they schedule me at 4 am.”
Evans admitted to suffering from fatigue, adding: “It’s hard – I was the 12 o’clock match. The second match would have been a bit easier for me, but that’s the way it’s gone.”
He also said he hoped that ‘common sense would have prevailed’, but that was not to be.
It’s ironic that scheduling was such a sore spot in 2019, as 14 years earlier, Federer admitted he’d taken a scheduling risk before the US Open.
What current players have complained about the tennis schedule?
Whilst Federer and Evans’ gripe was more aimed towards the US Open’s timings, the wider schedule has been a point of contention for years now. That frustration only seems to be intensifying too, as the calendar continues to be crammed full of events.
Whilst all of the traditional tournaments remain, it feels like something new pops up every year, with the Laver Cup and the Six Kings Slam just two examples of relatively new events that have added to the schedule.
Carlos Alcaraz has been one notable detractor, having stated last year: “In a way, they are killing us.
“Right now, there are many players injured due to the calendar and other factors, but at some point, there will be players who will have to skip tournaments because they have to take care of their bodies, families, and other aspects of life besides tennis.”
Iga Swiatek has also complained about the tennis schedule on multiple occasions, arguing: “For me, I believe the schedule is super intense, too intense.
“I think people would still watch tennis even if we played fewer tournaments. This would help us be more consistent later on. It’s a challenge; tennis is a tough sport.”
It is a very serious problem, as the sport continues to add to the physical demands of an already gruelling sport. Something needs to be done, but for whatever reason, it feels like the calendar is only growing.
