It is normal for tournaments to show favoritism towards the stars

Jose Morón | 26 Jan 2026 | 23.00

It is normal for tournaments to have favoritism towards the stars. Photo: Getty

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Darren Cahill, coach of Jannik Sinner, spoke to the outlet covering the Australian Open and during a match broadcast acknowledged that they didn't request to play their fourth-round match at night, being content with any schedule. Let's pretend we believe it.

It's well known that top stars always make requests to tournament directors. This is not a recent phenomenon. It was happening even back in the Big 3 era. For instance, Roger Federer, a close friend of Craig Tiley, the Australian Open director, used to request not to play in the heat of the day in order to avoid competing in the hottest hours. As a result, he was almost always scheduled to play at night.

On the other hand, Rafael Nadal often asked to play in the daytime at clay court tournaments, knowing that his game would be more effective under those conditions, or requested specific schedules to allow for better rest. It's logical and normal. Each tournament looks out for its own interests, and it benefits all when the top players advance to the later rounds, as it means increased ticket sales, more sponsorships, and higher profits.

All top players make some requests to tournaments, always in their favor. Not all requests can be accommodated, but organizers always try to be as fair as possible and keep the players happy. Nobody is going to believe Cahill's statement that they didn't ask to play at night or in the last slot. It makes him look worse to say that than to tell the truth.

All top players make requests to tournaments

Moreover, it's completely understandable. After making him play in the worst possible slot on the hottest day, it was logical for the tournament to schedule him at night or in the final match. Everyone would have understood if Cahill had said they requested to play at night, but it creates a worse image to say the opposite.

They might not have needed to request it (although, I repeat, it's hard to believe), but Cahill and Tiley have such a good relationship that it would be logical for the Australian Open to make that gesture for the Italian, making it unlikely to see him play during the day in this edition.

It's not wrong for each tournament to favor the stars. Everyone would do the same. And when I say stars, I'm not just referring to the top players but also to local players. Therefore, it's normal for French players to get better schedules in France, Italians in Italy, and Spaniards in Spain. In fact, De Miñaur has played in three out of the four matches this year in Melbourne at night, ahead of Alcaraz.

In fact, if Carlos hadn't faced Alex in the quarters, it's highly likely that the Spaniard would have played on Tuesday in the day session, letting De Miñaur play at night. It's obvious. On the hottest day, with temperatures reaching 45 degrees, the tournament wasn't going to make Alex play at 3 in the afternoon. They would have placed him at the best possible time, as is logical.

We all know what goes on; there's no need to try to hide it. The vast majority understand that some players' requests will be heard more than others, depending on their rank or status. Not everyone can be treated equally because some sell more than others, and it must be remembered that this is a business. So, Darren, there's no need, really. Let's be straightforward, as there's no harm in admitting the truth.