ATP
US Open too hot to handle
US Open officials have been closing the roof during the day as part of a “heat policy” to make it cooler.
But the opposite has happened because the closed areas has become more humid for the players – just check out Daniel Medvedev during his quarterfinal win over Andrey Rublev.
Soaking in sweat as the temperature neared 35 Celsius Medvedev looked into a courtside camera and issued what sounded like a mix between a warning and a plea.
“You cannot imagine,” he said. “One player (is) gonna die, and they’re gonna see.”
Medvedev even used an inhaler during the second-set.
“At the end of the first set, I couldn’t see the ball anymore,” he added.
Under a new rule the USTA closed the retractable Ashe roof to provide some additional protection from the sun, but the shadows it caused made it hard to see the balls as they zipped through the air.
Others, including media, have complained about the humidity, but no one has listened to the issue, like no one has listened to the criticism of midnight hour tennis – with games ending at 2am.
Aryna Sabalenka wasn’t too worried though.
“It was hot, but because I did my preparation in Florida — I mean, what can be worse than Florida? I mean, in July and June,”she said.
Ironically, the US Open officials said during the week they were conducting a mental health forum, “Mental Health and Sport: Why It Matters.”
Among the wokish topics discussed there was mental toughness v mental wellness and social media and its impact on mental well-being, bit nothing on the welfare of a player forced to pay until 2am to satisfy a commercial contract, have to shower, change, eat and then try to sleep, before going through through same process a couple of days later.
Bizarre, but it is New York, the city that expects no one to sleep.
NYPD Cops quickly swooped to detain them. Photo: Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
AND talking of bizarre… quote of the week from the USTA re closing the roof.
“The roof was closed at the completion of this match to further facilitate the climatization process.”
Translation anyone?
NEW York was hoping it had escaped the eco-clowns who have disrupted sporting events this year – protesting that our energy supplies should be shut down so we can all go back to pre-industrial revolution times.
Sadly it wasn’t to be as Coco Gauff’s march to her first US One final was delayed for nearly an hour as four idiots decided to turn up and voice their horror that we are all going to boil to death (according to the UN) tomorrow.
Security though did their job eventually as one idiot glued his bare feet to the concrete.
Surrounded by 15 of New York City’s finest, all four were eventually taken away and held in custody.
And the irony of this tale? The glue used by the protester would have been an oil (fossil fuel) derivative.
BUT one eco problem tennis does have is its yellow fluffy balls.
Tennis balls are extremely hard to recycle and the industry has yet to develop a ball to make that process easier.
According to the latest stats (who compiles this sort of brain numbing stuff?) nearly all of the 330 million balls made worldwide each year end up in the garbage, with most in landfills, where it is believed they can take over 400 years to decompose.
In an era where almost everything – and everything we do – is slammed as a danger to the planet, it is worth noting that tennis balls make up way less than 1% of the hundreds of millions of rubbish produced every year.
Some of course, are recycled as toys for dogs, and others are ground down to recycle as footing for horse-based arenas, and ironically tennis courts!
GRAMMY Award-winning composer and singer Cécile McLorin Salvant performed “America the Beautiful” on court before yesterday’s women’s singles championship between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka.
Prior to “America the Beautiful,” singers from the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts High School in nearby Astoria, Queens – founded by tennis player and fan Tony Bennett, who passed away in July, and his wife Susan – also performed a medley tribute to Bennett.
Photo: Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
CELEBRITIES were out in force at the US Open to take in Coco Gauff’s first Grand Slam title.
The stands on Arthur Ashe Stadium were heaving with stars from the big screen, small screen, and the sporting world, including Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Mindy Kaling, Amanda Seyfried, Rachel Brosnahan, Cara Delevigne, Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick, Monica Seles, Tracy Austin, Shonda Rhimes, Laura Dern, Mariska Hargitay, Al Roker, Diane Keaton, Jake Paul and Alec Baldwin.
NAOMI Osaka is set to return to tennis for the Australian Open in January, announcing last week her break from the sport “really fuelled a fire in me”.
The 25-year-old gave birth to daughter Shai in July and hasn’t played since September 2022. In an interview with ESPN at the US Open Osaka replied “yes” when asked if she would be in Melbourne at the start of next year.
Osaka said she was anticipating making a full-time return to the women’s tour in 2024.
“It’s definitely way more tournaments than I used to play,” she said.
“I think it’s because I realise like I don’t know how the beginning of the year is going to go for me.
“I don’t know the level of play and I think I kind of have to ease into it, so at the very least I’m going to set myself up for a very good end of the year.”
Carlos Alcaraz ended a four-and-a-half month injury exile with a resounding 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Roman Safiullin on Monday at the US Open to mark his return to the courts after a wrist injury.
The defending champion now ranked third is hoping to become the first man to successfully defend the title here Roger Federer won US Open over five consecutive editions (2004-2008).
“For me it’s been a really tough five months. Being able to step on Arthur Ashe and being able to compete again.. as I said before the tournament, I couldn’t decide to come back in a better tournament than here in New York,” Alcaraz said.
“It’s a really special tenement for me. I tried to enjoy as much as I can. I missed it. I missed the crowd. The energy. I missed competition. I missed everything. 🥹 I’m just really really happy I was able to compete again.”
“On this (Ashe) court, I made my dream. First major. First time becoming No. 1 in the world.
“The warm welcome I receive every time I come here is crazy. I really appreciate it. I really feel the love from the people.”
One-time top 10 regular Stefanos Tsitsipas unleashed a major surprise on Cincinnati winner Arthur Fils with a turnaround 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-4 win as the French youngster failed to earn a two-set-to-love lead over the Greek.
“I don’t have the answer,” the 10th-seeded Fils said after his collapse in form. “Once the energy went down at the end of the second, I never felt again a good energy.
“I have to talk with my team, but at my level, to do such a mistake is almost unprofessional.”
He added: “I was trying to fight; at one point I broke back early in the fourth, so I was trying to find a way, but not accurate enough on the serve.
“The ball was not going very well out of my racquet. Even if I was fighting, was tough.”
Fils had beaten No. 53 Tsitsipas in all five of heir previous matches
The Greek, playing unseeded for the first time here, reaching the second round for the sixth time as he came from a set and 5-2 down.
Former ATP No. 3 Tsitsipas pronounced himself “speechless” at his success. “It’s an amazing start to the tournament, I’m very proud of myself.
“I’m taking it a day at a time. I don’t wanna be looking too far away. I prefer to stay grounded in the moment. A win like this today matters a lot to me.”
:French veteran Adrian Mannarino, aged 38, fought back from two sets to love down for only the second time in his career to advance past Thiago Tirante 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
The loss ended the dream of the 42nd-ranked Argentine who beat Novak Djokovic in the Cincinnati second round last month as the Serb competed for the first time since Wimbledon at the pre-Open event.
The first-round match began on opening day but was interrupted by night-time rain and concluded on Monday.
Andrey Rublev wore down lucky loser Otto Virtanen as the Finn cramped in the closing stages on the way to a 6-7 (5), 6-7 (0), 6-0, 6-2, 7-6 (5). Virtanen entered the draw as former champion Marin Cilic withdrew.
Main photo:- ‘New look” Carlos Alcaraz celebrates first round win on return from injury – ATPTour.com
Novak Djokovic hit the wall as the 24-time Grand Slam winner vomited at the back of the court and was treated by the trainer during a disheartening first round loss which ended early Monday morning on opening day of the US Open.
The 39-year-old Serb fell ill – he said things have been this way for weeks – as he took a loss to Mariano Navone 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
In addition to his stomach problems, the ailing Serb was seen by the trainer, the doctor and used an inhaler as he complained of cramping and general poor health during a stress test lasting nearly four and three-quarter hours.
The defeat came a fortnight after Djokovic was knocked out in his opening match in Cincinnati after reaching a Wimbledon semi-final.
“It was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me. It’s something I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year,” Djokovic said early Monday.
“Vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there. Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain.
“The back just gave up in the end and shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out.
He added: “I was up a break up in the fourth, but just struggled all the way since the fourth game of the match. Congrats to him. He’s a nice guy, a fighter.
But, you know, I didn’t enjoy myself.”
The disappointing end was Djokovic’s earliest Grand Slam exit in two decades and cut off a run of 78 Grand Slam first-round victories going back to a loss to Paul Goldstein at the 2006 Australian Open.
“From the perspective of the crowd and support, it was incredible, honestly from the beginning. They were trying to lift me up in important moments,” Djokovic said.
“I’m very sorry that I, you know, didn’t perform as well as I should have or could have… but the love and appreciation they gave me in the end really touched my heart.”
Seventh seed and 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev came good after losing here a year ago in the first round, posting a win over Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 for his 33rd victory of the season.
Montreal quarter-finalist Daniel Merida defeated Marton Fucsovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 to earn the fist straight-set men’s win of the fortnight.
Jiri Lehecka put out two-time semi-finalist Pablo Carreño Busta 6-1, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-2. The win served as revenge after the veteran Spaniard beat the Czech in the Roland Garros first round.
No. 101 Dino Prizmic spent nearly four hours before completing a win over Alexander Shevchenko to advance in five sets.
The 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 success was hard-fought, with Prizmic leading 5-2 and serving for it in the fourth set but needing to go all the way to claim his first victory here after saving two match points.
The Croat has threatened top 10 names in the past, beating Novak Djokovic in Rome and Ben Shelton in Madrid.
Cincinnati quarter-finalist Tommy Paul recovered after losing the opening set, storming back for a 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 win over Hong Kong qualifier Coleman Wong.
Day 1 British results were mixed, with Cam Norrie going down in an upset loss to Frenchman Luca van Assche 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 while debutant Toby Samuel’s earned the biggest win of his career as he stunned Czech Tomas Machac 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.
Former finalist Casper Ruud made a last-minute pull out on Sunday as the US Open began, with the Norwegian still affected by the back injury which forced his retirement only days ago in Cincinnati.
The runner-up four years ago to Carlos Alcaraz has been carrying the problems for several weeks and pulled the plug on his participation on opening day of the season;s final major.
Ruud becomes the 20th player to withdraw,, a list led by world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who is dealing with a knee injury and who has not played since winning Wimbledon in July.
Ruud was due to start in New York against Juan Manuel Cerundolo, whom he defeated last month in Montreal.
Ruud now faces a rush to fitness if he is to compete at the Laver Cup in London from September 25.
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