Player revolt gets finals moved

Saturday, 10 September 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: The U.S. Open will slide into a third week after organisers of the last grand slam of the year bowed to player pressure on Thursday and agreed to change the finals schedule.

The women’s singles final, originally set for Saturday night, was moved to Sunday afternoon while the men’s championship decider, initially planned for Sunday, the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, was shifted to Monday.

It is the fourth year in a row that the U.S. Open has gone over schedule because of bad weather although officials could still have finished on time this year, even after two days were washed out by rain.

Leading players, including defending men’s champion Rafa Nadal, complained the men’s draw had become lopsided because of the weather delays, convincing officials and television broadcasters to cave in.