Tuesday was a day of scorching heat and oppressive weather at the US Open.
According to USA Today reporter Sandra Harwitt, “the temperature was 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) with 46 percent humidity, which makes it feel like it’s 103 degrees (39.4C) outside at Flushing Meadows, Corona Park, Queens, where the US Open is played.”
The tournament even opted to introduce a unprecedented 10-minute break between the third and fourth sets of men’s matches; a similar heat rule has existed for several years for between the second and third sets of women’s matches.
It made for a hot conversation topic among the players – here’s what some of them had to say.
“I think it’s particularly tough for us Europeans. We don’t have this type of humidity where we live and where we grow up. So it’s something we have to get used to over the years that we are on court. (When it’s so humid) the pulse never comes down and you’re sweating so much that you don’t know what hit you. I’m happy I’ve gotten used to it over the years but sometimes you can do whatever you want (but) you’re just gonna cramp up sometimes. It’s tough, so you’re happy when you survive a day like this.”
“It was just bloody hot. I was drenched straight away … I mean, I felt fine but it was tough out there. My face was so red, I had to have a shower before I did anything else. Everyone always talks about how hot Melbourne is and ‘oh my god, it’s so bad and everything’, but the US Open’s way worse than Melbourne. We get like one or two really hot days but I think they go on for longer and longer here in the States and there’s more retirements and everything here than what there ever is in Melbourne. But for some reason we get the bad rap in Australia.”
“We (Marton Fucsovics and I) both struggled. We were not the only ones today. Obviously you had almost 10 retirements in the men’s draw. Brutal conditions. But it is what it is. You have to kind of deal with it. Obviously a 10-minute break was something that was very much appreciated and needed. I’m glad that we had that. I haven’t experienced that before. That was the first time. I think we both needed it.”
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“I think you can’t compare it (my night match) to the players that played during the day today. A big congrats to all of them who were able to finish the match and come out strong. These conditions … sometimes when it gets over 95 or 100 (F) it’s just tough, no matter if you’re prepared or not.”
“It was very humid and also very hot, but it was the same for both of us. I mean, we had to deal with it. I think it (the 10-minute break after the second set) helped me a lot. I went, actually, to the bathroom and changed the outfit for the new one to be more fresh and just stayed in air conditioning.”
“One of the most brutal days that we had so far this year. I was just missing some easy balls, making some unforced errors that are not that usual for me. Conditions definitely were extremely tough and very humid, very hot.”
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