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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider US Open roasts players as Medvedev, Sabalenka advance

US Open roasts players as Medvedev, Sabalenka advance

Published Sep 7, 2023 01:04 am

At A Glance

  • Daniil Medvedev overcame roasting temperatures to battle into the US Open semifinals on Wednesday, Sept. 6, as Aryna Sabalenka delivered a sizzling display to reach the last four.

NEW YORK (AFP) -- Daniil Medvedev overcame roasting temperatures to battle into the US Open semifinals on Wednesday, Sept. 6, as Aryna Sabalenka delivered a sizzling display to reach the last four.

afp.com-20230906-PH-GTY-1663923037-highres.jpg
Daniil Medvedev of Russia reacts against Andrey Rublev of Russia during their Men's Singles Quarterfinal match on Day Ten of the 2023 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Wednesday, Sept. 6, in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.  (AFP)

Third seed Medvedev said the furnace-like conditions had put player safety at risk during his 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Russian compatriot Andrey Rublev.

New York has been sweltering in a heatwave this week, with high humidity and temperatures at Flushing Meadows on Wednesday, hitting 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit).

Tournament organizers confirmed that extreme heat measures were in effect for Medvedev and Rublev's quarterfinal -- but the Russian was clearly unimpressed.

At one point during the third set, the 2021 US Open champion muttered to a nearby TV camera "one player is going to die and they're going to see" as he grabbed a towel.

"The conditions were brutal. The only good thing is that both players suffer, so it's tough for both of us," Medvedev said after his victory in 2hr 48min.

"At the end of the first set I kind of couldn't see the ball anymore. I kind of just played with sensations."

Both Medvedev and Rublev attempted to cool down during changeovers by wrapping towels packed with ice around them, while Medvedev could be seen puffing from an inhaler.

The US Open's extreme heat policy as it applies to the men's draw allows male players to leave the court for a period of 10 minutes after the third set.

Medvedev said he had planned to dash from the court to take a cold shower in the changing room if the match had gone to a fourth set, before he wrapped up victory in the third.

"I just thought I don't care, I'm just going to do it, but I didn't need to, so I am going to do it now," said Medvedev, who will face either defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or German 12th seed Alexander Zverev in the last four on Friday.

 

Zheng left in shade

 

Wednesday's play got under way earlier in blazing sunshine on Arthur Ashe, where China's Zheng Qinwen struggled in the bright sunshine before being overwhelmed by second seed Sabalenka 6-1, 6-4.

Zheng said the partially closed roof on Arthur Ashe -- a move designed to protect spectators from the sun -- had caused her problems, making it hard to focus on the ball with shadows darkening part of the court.

"I hate that different half shadow, half sun," Zheng said. "Because I feel that's also bad, I mean, my eyes."

Sabalenka however had no difficulty in adapting, with the Belarusian dominating her opponent with a powerful service game that sends her into a last four meeting with either Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic or Madison Keys.

Sabalenka was assured of replacing Iga Swiatek at the top of the women's rankings after the Polish No.1 crashed out of the US Open on Sunday.

However Sabalenka said she is not thinking about her new-found status as the world's top player just yet.

"Of course I'm happy ... it's incredible for me and my family.

"But I have some things still to do in New York this year and I'll think about becoming No.1 after the US Open."

Related Tags

Daniil Medvedev US Open Aryna Sabalenka
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