Players warn US Open's three-week format leaves little time to recover

The U.S. Open has grown into a three-week event, drawing concerns from players about an overcrowded schedule and insufficient rest between matches. USTA CEO Craig Tiley has framed the expansion as a goal of extending growth to a four-week cycle, a prospect that some players fear will strain schedules further. Marta Kostyuk and Denis Shapovalov are among those warning that lengthening the tournament timetable makes it harder for players to recover and disconnect, even as top seeds begin earlier in the week. Kostyuk hopes the format won’t stretch further, while Leylah Fernandez says the extra day off is welcome, though Shapovalov argues that more downtime doesn’t automatically translate into true rest. The pre-tournament period has become increasingly crowded with sponsor events and media obligations, leading analysts to question whether off-court commitments are impacting on-court focus and performance.