First, let’s admit the obvious: tennis schedules are not like your dentist appointment. They are more like a very messy, unpredictable reality show where rain, a five-set marathon, and a rogue pigeon can change everything. If someone tells you a specific time for Emma’s match two days in advance, laugh in their face. They are either lying or a wizard, and wizards rarely share their secrets.
Here’s the brutal truth: Emma’s match time depends entirely on what happens before her. If the previous match is between two players who enjoy hitting the ball for four and a half hours, your 3 PM “start time” suddenly becomes 7 PM. You might as well plan to have dinner, watch a movie, and then check your phone again.
How to Actually Find the Time (Without Losing Your Mind)
Your first move is to never trust a single source. The website of the tournament? Yes. The official app? Sure. Your friend Dave who “heard it from a guy”? No, Dave is always wrong. Cross-reference everything like you’re a detective solving a crime—except the crime is stealing your evening plans.
The most reliable trick is to look for the “Order of Play” on the tournament’s official website. This is a sacred document that lists all matches on a specific court. Emma is usually scheduled as the third or fourth match on a court. That doesn’t sound helpful, but it is! You can then estimate roughly two hours per match, add a thirty-minute buffer for tears and towel changes, and you’ll be in the ballpark.
