IT’S LIKE BEING INSIDE A SAUNA
Novak blasts US Open’s scorching stadium
THE hottest year of Grand Slam tennis on record will reach a blessedly more temperate conclusion this weekend, with the scorching heat at the US Open set to die away.
This will be a relief for all concerned, including Novak Djokovic, who called for action to be taken about ventilation on the Arthur Ashe Stadium after describing conditions in his quarter-final as being ‘like a sauna’.
Tonight the 31-year-old Serb will take on Japan’s Kei Nishikori for a place in the final, while Rafael Nadal will reprise his outstanding Wimbledon encounter against Juan Martin Del Potro.
Djokovic’s 6-3, 6-4, 64 win over John Millman was marked by more heat dramas as the Australian asked to change clothes in the middle of the second set.
‘I think the tournament needs to address this,’ said the Wimbledon champion. ‘Whether it’s night or day, we just don’t have air down there. It feels like a sauna.’
Heat has been a theme running through the majors this year. Temperatures at the Australian Open were over a hundred for several days, the French Open was marked by cloying humidity, Wimbledon baked like it was 1976 all over again and there have been multiple stories of player distress at Flushing Meadows. The lack of air circulation has been partly due to the giant retractable roof put on the Arthur Ashe Stadium two years ago. ‘I personally have never sweated as much as I have here. Incredible. I have to take at least 10 shirts for every match,’ said Djokovic. ‘It’s literally after two games you’re soaking. I asked the chair umpire whether they are using some form of ventilation or air conditioning down at the court level side, and he says he’s not aware of it.
‘Obviously it’s fantastic to have the roof because then the rain will not interrupt the matches. But there is no circulation of the air at all, especially court level.’
One measure already taken has been to wedge open the ground level doors that lead on to the stadium.
A spokesperson for the US Tennis Association said: ‘We are trying to create greater air circulation by keeping all four doors open. We are facing unusually hot and humid conditions this year and we will explore ways of stimulating air flow in the stadium bowl following the 2018 US Open.’
A further factor has been the courts being slowed down slightly this year, leading to longer rallies.
Djokovic has a 14-2 record over Nishikori but one of the Japanese speedster’s two wins came in the US Open semi-final four years ago.
Nadal has played Del Potro in three of the four previous Grand Slams and won each time. The formbook suggests a very familiar look to the men’s final.