Tennis player CoCo Vandeweghe has strongly criticized the organizers of the Rome Open, calling their scheduling decisions “absolutely disgraceful.” The uproar follows an incident where players Casper Ruud and Jaume Munar were left waiting to play their match due to an extended women’s match that ran late into the night.
Despite having other courts available, the tournament officials opted not to shift Ruud and Munar to a different location, thereby sticking to the original match schedule. This choice has drawn ire from Vandeweghe, who emphasized the importance of players’ well-being and how such decisions can adversely affect their performance in subsequent matches.
The match between Ruud and Munar ultimately needed to be rescheduled for the next day, which could have implications for the athletes’ readiness and mindset moving forward in the tournament. Vandeweghe’s comments resonate with a broader discontent amongst players regarding tournament scheduling and the prioritization of player welfare.
As the tennis community watches closely, the pressure remains not only on the players to perform under these challenging circumstances but also on the Rome Open organizers to reconsider their approach to match scheduling in the future. The incident highlights the need for better management in tournament logistics, ensuring that player health and fairness take precedence.