Tennis-'It's going to happen', organisers defend late Melbourne finishes

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 14, 2024 General view during the first round match between Serbia's Novak Djokovic and Croatia's Dino Prizmic as the Melbourne skyline is seen in the background REUTERS/Edgar Su

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Tournament director Craig Tiley said on Monday that late finishes are inevitable at the Australian Open despite the introduction of an extra day this year to help with fixture congestion.

The year's first Grand Slam is notorious for its late finishes and in 2008 a match between Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis famously concluded at 4:33 a.m.