Roof caused a slow start that cost me
MARIN CILIC questioned the decision to close the roof at Rod Laver Arena, claiming it meant he suffered a slow start in his Australian Open Final defeat to Roger Federer. Having prepared for the match exposed to the elements on a scorching day the Croat lost 6-2 6-7 (7-5) 6-3 3-6 6-1 in the much cooler indoor conditions in the evening. Federer, who trained indoors earlier in the day, wrapped up the opening set in 24 minutes as a flustered Cilic struggled. The sixth seed said: “Throughout the tournament I played all my matches outdoors, also preparing for a hot day, 38 degrees. “Then for the Final to play the roof with closed, it’s difficult. “Could it have been different? guess so. I It was just a little bit difficult to adjust, especially the beginning of the match. “With the roof closed it cooler was way than I expected. That was very difficult, especially for the Final to be in that kind of a situation.” The retractable roofs at Melbourne Park are usually open kept unless the tournament’s extreme heat policy is invoked when the temperature exceeds 40 degrees and a key humidity threshold has been surpassed. Tournament organisers cited the “wet bulb globe temperature”, its humidity measure, as at 1-1, 2-2 and 4-4. He had a glorious chance to level the match against the run of play when Federer served a double fault at 30-30 in the 10th game. But he buried a routine backhand into the net.
Federer began the tie-break with a couple of aces and broke with a forehand but Cilic cranked up the power to move 6-4 ahead with a thundering forehand and levelled the match with another winner from his favourite wing.
It was Federer’s first dropped set in the fortnight and at last there was a real contest. Order was quickly being above the threshold of 32.5 as their reason for the roof closure. The temperature outside, however, was 37 when Cilic and Federer walked out on court. The roof closure triggered a barrage of criticism from current and former players, with former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash saying it played right into 36-year-old Federer’s hands. The Aussie said: “It’s an outdoor tournament – it’s like Wimbledon. Why is the roof closed? “The way Roger plays, he swings so hard at the ball and takes it so early, any wind or variation of the ball moving will take it away from him. “It’s why he’s one of the best players ever indoors.” Other players expressed similar surprise. Scotland’s Jamie Murray tweeted: “I can’t believe they’ve closed the roof.” Former British player Greg Rusedski tweeted: “Absolutely ridiculous that the roof is closed for the Australian Open. “GS are outdoor events. Yes it’s hot but the court is under shade and an evening match.” Federer said he was “surprised” organisers had the heat rule in place for the night final. He said: “I never heard that before. Of course I backed myself in sort of indoor conditions. I do think back that usually when I play indoors it’s good for me. But I didn’t mind the heat to be honest.” restored as Federer took the third set and when the Swiss star had a point for a double break in the fourth the title beckoned.
But Cilic blasted his way out of trouble and when he broke to love for 3-3 he looked menacing.
The Croat will rue the two break points he squandered in the first game of the decider – the first with a dreadful forehand and second with a shanked return.
But Federer hung in to take the game with a streaky backhand winner and went on to seal his 20th Grand Slam title success. change my day, you are my daughter, it doesn’t matter if you’re working in a supermarket or No.1 in the world, this is the same for me.’
“We waited a long time. It was Caroline’s dream from very young, 12 years old, that she would win a Grand Slam or be No.1 in the world. Today we see it coming in the same moment.
“So this dream is now reality. Now I hope Caroline can have the next dream.”
Wozniacki – whose previous best was two runners-up finishes at the US Open – is still planning to play next week’s St Petersburg Open but has not considered what this first Slam trophy could potentially lead to over the rest of her career.
She said: “As athletes we don’t enjoy the moments and I really just want to enjoy the moment.
“Not only am I a Grand Slam champion – it still seems crazy to say that – but I’m also back to No.1. I couldn’t have scripted it any better and I’m very proud of the way I’ve fought to get here.”
Halep, who complained of dizziness during the match played in extreme heat with the roof open, spent four hours in hospital receiving treatment for dehydration after her third defeat in a Grand Slam final.