Miami Open Match Postponed: Djokovic vs. Korda Delayed Until Thursday

Miami, Florida – The highly anticipated quarter-final match between Novak Djokovic and Sebastian Korda at the Miami Open was postponed Wednesday night due to ATP regulations preventing matches from starting after 11 p.m. The decision came after a lengthy day of tennis at Hard Rock Stadium, where approximately 13,000 spectators were in attendance.

Andrew Krasny, a tennis host and producer, broke the news to the frustrated crowd, which had just witnessed Emma Raducanu‘s intense three-set match against Jessica Pegula. Pegula emerged victorious with set scores of 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2, but the prolonged duration of that match meant Djokovic and Korda’s contest could not proceed as planned.

“In accordance with ATP rules that do not allow for a match to go on court after 11 p.m., the match between Novak Djokovic and Sebastian Korda has been postponed until tomorrow and will be the third match from 1 p.m.,” Krasny announced, prompting discontented reactions from the audience.

The day’s delays started Tuesday when rain caused approximately four hours of disruption, which forced organizers to reschedule a match between Arthur Fils and Alexander Zverev to Wednesday afternoon. Despite this, the scheduled matches began later than expected, ultimately leading to the Djokovic-Korda postponement.

Notably, the matches preceding Djokovic and Korda’s showdown resulted in several lengthy scenarios. Iga Swiatek’s earlier loss to Alexandra Eala in straight sets and Fils’ tussle with Zverev, ending in three sets, further complicated scheduling, delaying Raducanu and Pegula’s match start time to about 9 p.m., two hours behind schedule. Their intense contest concluded at nearly 11:30 p.m.

The ATP’s regulations to prevent late finishes come as a response to complaints about scheduling issues in previous tournaments, many of which have seen matches extend into the early morning. As such, the decision to postpone was viewed as a necessary, albeit unpopular, one for player welfare.

While the crowd dispersed with varying degrees of disappointment, some spectators noted the irony of the forthcoming day’s schedule mirroring that of Wednesday’s. The Thursday agenda features three afternoon matches starting at 1 p.m. and two night matches commencing at 7 p.m. Analysts have raised concerns that without adjustments, similar delays and complications for the evening matches could occur again.

Djokovic, a celebrated tennis player, entered the quarter-finals after defeating Rinky Hijikata, Camilo Ugo Carabelli, and Lorenzo Musetti without dropping a set. Despite a year without tournament victories, he was expected to compete vigorously against Korda, who had impressed as well. Both players have expressed the need to adapt to the postponement.

Prominent tennis figures, including former player CoCo Vandeweghe and commentator Paul Annacone, have weighed in on the ATP’s regulations, suggesting that a degree of flexibility could better serve the players’ interests. “If they both wanted to play, let them play,” said Annacone, reflecting on the unique situation where both players are ready and eager to compete.

Both Djokovic and Korda must now mentally reset as they prepare for their rescheduled match, while tournament organizers are under pressure to devise a more sustainable solution to scheduling issues in future events. A statement has yet to be issued by the Miami Open regarding potential changes in scheduling protocols.

As the tournament continues, fans and players alike remain hopeful that lessons learned from this incident will lead to improvements in the organization of future matches, preserving the excitement of live tennis.