Roger Federer ‘one the biggest box-office athletes’, deserves prime-time slot, says Australian Open boss Craig Tiley

Craig Tiley stated that Roger Federer's status as one the "biggest box-office athletes" makes it imperative that his matches be aired in prime time.

Roger Federer with the Australian Open title

Novak Djokovic also jumped to Roger Federer’s defence. (Source: Reuters)

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley on Tuesday responded to France’s Julien Benneteau’s allegation that the tournament tends to give preferential treatment in terms of scheduling matches to Swiss great Roger Federer. Tiley stated that Federer’s status as one the “biggest box-office athletes” makes it imperative that his matches be aired in prime time.

“In terms of players and their appeal, it needs to be said that Roger Federer is a once-in-a-generation-player widely regarded as one of the biggest ‘box office’ athletes in the world,” said Tiley in a statement. “He has been regularly voted Australia’s favourite athlete. The fans demand his appearance in the big stadiums and our broadcasters naturally want his matches to be aired in prime time. And I don’t think there’s a tournament director in the world who’s not going to take those factors into account when setting the schedule. This is the case with the big names in tennis and in sport in general.”

In an interview on French radio station RMC Sport, Benneteau said 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer played “12 or 13” of his 14 matches at Melbourne in the past two years at night, so avoiding the often scorching temperatures. Federer was also defended by current world no.1 Novak Djokovic. “In the end of the day, in a way he deserves the special treatment because he’s six-time champion of Australian Open and arguably the best player ever,” said the Serbian. “If he doesn’t have it, who is going to have it? People want to see him play on the centre court, and they want to see him play in showtime, the best hours, which is 7:30 at night in Rod Laver Arena. I understand Julien’s point because sometimes it does seem that maybe certain players get more favoured year after year in certain tournaments. On the other side, you have to understand that Federer is a driving force of tennis in terms of revenue, in terms of attention. Julien and guys like him are also benefiting from tennis, because of Roger, because of what he has done for the sport.”

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Tiley further said in the statement that the tournament’s organisers make “no secret about working hard to provide the very best experience for all players” at the Australian Open.”We put significant efforts into looking after all of them and making the Australian Open, and Melbourne, one of their very favourite places to be.”

Benneteau also alleged conflict of interest in Federer’s Laver Cup project an exhibition team event in which Tiley is also involved. “Tennis Australia is justly proud of the success of the Laver Cup,” said Tiley in the statement, “in which we certainly have a share, alongwith USTA and other partners. It’s been one of the most succesfull new tennis events in recent times, showing the sport in a new light and attracting new fans. I’d say the success of the Laver Cup has been seen as somewhat a ‘disruptor’ to the men’s game.”