'The world wakes up and works 9-5 even 8-6, pathetic': Dan Evans slams Alejandro Davidovich Fokina’s scheduling complaints

On the other side, fans sympathetic to Fokina argued that elite athletes deserve compassion around recovery and scheduling, especially after late-night matches and extended travel.

Evans’ remarks highlight a growing divide in the ATP locker room between players who are used to being scheduled in marquee evening slots and those willing to adapt to more unpredictable match times.

For many, especially those outside the top 20, early matches are the norm. But even top players occasionally find themselves facing 11 a.m. starts, a reality of the packed tournament calendar. The two have never had a particularly close rapport on tour, but this latest exchange has seemingly widened the gap.

The debate comes as the ATP continues to juggle demands from broadcasters, sponsors, and players, all while trying to keep the sport’s schedule balanced and fair.

Tournament organisers are often under pressure to front-load high-profile matches in prime viewing slots, meaning players further down the pecking order are sometimes asked to start earlier.

Fokina has yet to respond to Evans’ comment publicly, but fans online have speculated that the dust-up could add spice to any future meeting between the two.

Both played at the DC Open last week, but as Fokina made it to the final, he will have played six matches in the last nine days.

In Washington, the new top 20 star powered through Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton to reach another final of the season on the ATP Tour. At 5-3 in the decider against Alex De Minaur, Fokina served for the match, only to be broken and see his opportunity slip away in a dramatic tiebreaker loss.

Subsequently, de Minaur comforted him courtside, calling him "a hell of a competitor" and telling Fokina his best chapter is still ahead. Nevertheless, whether you side with Fokina’s complaint or Evans’ dismissal, one thing is clear: tennis is not just about who wins or loses, it is about how players manage what happens between the lines.