BOILING POINT
Djokovic pleads with officials after playing in extreme heat
PLAYER rights are clearly a preoccupation for Novak Djokovic at present, and that extends to the 48-hour heatwave currently engulfing the Victorian capital.
The six-times champion led calls for officials to be allowed more discretion in sparing competitors the kind of risks faced by himself and Gael Monfils yesterday at Melbourne Park.
Djokovic emerged victorious from a two hour and 45 minute ordeal in temperatures that soared past 40C (104F), and saw the Frenchman bent double and gasping for breath between points.
After a formidable feat of endurance, Djokovic expressed his concern that the tournament’s famed ‘Wet Bulb Index’ — a calculation of heat and humidity — may not adequately protect players.
He had a point, as to sit just in the shade on Rod Laver Arena yesterday was to wonder how anyone could perform strenuous activity in that heat. Monfils protested on-court to officials but they declined to order a break or to close the roof.
‘The health of our players is of paramount concern, but we need to be consistent with the outside courts so some don’t get an unfair advantage,’ said a tournament statement.
Responding to the policy Djokovic said: ‘I’m not sure about that. There are certain days where as a tournament supervisor you recognise that you might need to give players a few extra hours until it comes down.’
Monfils felt it was beyond that: ‘I played two sets with half a breath, just to please the official, so it’s a bit risky,’ he said. ‘I got super dizzy. I think I have a small heatstroke for 40 minutes.’
Djokovic was keen to widen his argument out to take in areas which he believes backs up his ideas to establish a more coherent voice for the players.
‘You’re a part of the industry. Our sport has become an industry. It’s more business than a sport. At times I mind that, I don’t like that.
‘There is no indication that we’re going to have any form of discussion for a shorter season or anything like it. We’re just adding events. From a player’s perspective, that you’re kind of always in a rush.
‘I don’t want to sound ungrateful, I’m very grateful. But I also think that there should be some kind of rational conversation about rules that are imposed.’
The extreme heat is not predicted to last into the weekend so it should not be a longterm factor, but Roger Federer made sure that he missed yesterday’s by successfully lobbying to play his match at night. Temperatures were still above 90F when beat Germany’s Jan Lennard Struff 6-4 64 7-6.
Meanwhile, former champion Stan Wawrinka, coming back from knee surgery, was knocked out by American Tennys Sandgren.