US Open: The “Heat Policy” is working – Djokovic and Fucsovics in the ice buoy

The heat was one of the big topics during the first days at the US Open. There is no such thing as giving up for the professionals.

By Jens Huiber from New York City

Jan-Lennard Struff got to the point after his match against Tim Smycek: He was not surprised that several players could not play through to the end on the second day of the US Open. Struff himself had spared himself a major drama, beating the US player who entered the tournament with a wildcard in three sets.

For Ricarda’s Berankis and Leonardo Mayer, the tournament was already over. Mikhail Youzhny followed with cramps a little later. Three tasks, more or less because of the heat. The organizers had announced 32 degrees Celsius at the beginning of the Tuesday matches, but just at eleven o’clock. After noon there were a few more, plus the sultriness, which caused all players the biggest problems. Also recognized good athletes like Novak Djokovic, who left a bad impression until the middle of the third set against Marton Fucsovics.

But at least this led to the two opponents going into the ice barrel for a moment – each for himself, of course. But within striking distance and of course naked, as Djokovic told us after his success,

In any case, the organizers felt compelled to react: Ten minutes heat break, for the ladies after the second, for the men after the fourth set. Djokovic and Fucsovics took advantage of them, Andrea Petkovic and Jelena Ostapenko also.

However, it cannot be denied that some professionals were somewhat naive in their pursuit of the matter: The Hungarian, for example, played the first movements in a black outfit, but then changed to a white T-shirt. Fabio Fognini remained consistently in the dark blue top for four sets against Michael Mmoh.

By the way, the pros shouldn’t give up that easily: Mischa Zverev was visited by a physiotherapist towards the end of his five-match against Taylor Fritz without being asked. Accompanying a tournament official. The gentlemen wanted to make sure that Zverev would finish his match. In Melbourne Mischa Zverev had retired early in round one. He’s been on parole ever since. No matter what the weather.