BOILING POINT
Djokovic begs officials to spare players from the exhausting 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-time Australian Open 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 won 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 in a two hour, 45 minute ordeal that saw temperatures exceed 40C (104F) and left 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 such heat.
Monfils protested on- court to officials but they declined to order a break or 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,’ read a tournament statement. ‘The dry, desert nature of the heat meant that humidity levels were insufficient.’
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. it was right at the limit.’
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 that i had a small heatstroke for 40 minutes.’ Djokovic was keen to widen his argument to take in areas which he believes back 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, you’re kind of always in a rush.
‘i don’t want to sound ungrateful, i’m very grateful. But i also think there should be some kind of r rational conversation about rules that are imposed.’
The extreme t temperature is not predicted to last into the weekend so should not be a long-term factor, but Roger Federer made sure he missed yesterday’s heat by successfully lobbying to play his match at a TV-friendly time of night.
However, temperatures were still above 90F when he took to the court to beat germany’s Janlennard Struff 6-4, 6-4, 7-6.
Britain’s Kyle Edmund was also set to battle the heat in his thirdround match with georgia’s nikoloz Basilashvili, scheduled for midnight last night UK time, which is 11am here in Melbourne, with temperatures again expected to hit 40C.
Meanwhile, former champion Stan Wawrinka, coming back from knee surgery, was knocked out by the aptly named American Tennys Sandgren, who is not named after the sport, but is from Tennessee.