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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 31: A general view of Arthur Ashe Stadium during the Women’s Singles third round match between Naomi Osaka of Japan and Cori Gauff of the United States on day six of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2019 in Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
via Getty
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 31: A general view of Arthur Ashe Stadium during the Women’s Singles third round match between Naomi Osaka of Japan and Cori Gauff of the United States on day six of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2019 in Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
In the world of tennis, where heroes are made and dreams come true, there’s a different kind of battle happening at the 2023 US Open. It’s not just about tennis skills; it’s about players sweating profusely and the relentless sun making the court super hot. While players give their best to win, there’s an unexpected problem – an incredibly hot weather that could spoil the whole tournament.
In the middle of this intense competition, one player’s serious comment has shocked the tennis world. It’s sparked a big discussion about how to keep players safe when it’s super hot.
Mixed reactions to partial roof closure
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In response to the scorching conditions and complaints from players, the US Open made a partial roof closure rule. This meant that they closed part of the roof on certain courts to provide some shade from the sun and relief from the heat for players and fans. But this solution didn’t completely solve the problem. USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier explained, “The decision in both instances was made to provide relief from the sun and heat for the fans. By partially closing the roofs, both courts became shaded which improved conditions for the players.”
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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 01: A general view of Arthur Ashe Stadium with the roof closed during the second round Men’s Singles match between Andy Murray of Great Britain and Marcel Granollers of Spain on Day Four of the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 1, 2016 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
The tournament’s approach has drawn mixed reactions, with some applauding the effort to alleviate the heat while others argue for more comprehensive measures to safeguard player well-being. “The decision has nothing to do with cost. The U.S. Open is an outdoor tournament, but we did want to provide relief for fans where we could. That was the driver of the decision, but by partially closing the roofs, shade is cast on the court, and does improve playing conditions,” the USTA spokesman further added, to justify not closing the roofs entirely, as reported by New York Post.
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Daniil Medvedev’s alarming warning
This statement came out after the Daniil Medvedev v Andrey Rublev match where after winning in straight sets, Medvedev stated, “One day a player gonna die, and they gonna see.”
In a really exciting quarter-finals match between two Russian tennis players, Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, the heat became the main opponent. As the match went on, it was clear that the tough weather was making things really hard for the players. Players like Coco Gauff, and Novak Djokovic have complained about the boiling heat at US Open as well.
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His statement underscored the urgency of addressing the extreme conditions in which these athletes are competing. Medical interventions during the match highlighted the severity of the situation. Despite his remarkable skills, Medvedev struggled to cope, making his comment all the more poignant.
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