It was a “towel filled with ice and draped around the neck” kind of day at the US Open.
The Extreme Heat Policy went into effect on Day 2 on the scorching grounds at Flushing Meadows as temperatures climbed into the mid-90s — with a real feel of 104 due to the humidity.
The women’s tour has a rule in place calling for a 10-minute “heat break” between the second and third sets when the temperature is above 86.2 degrees Fahrenheit (it’s converted from Celsius, don’t ask) at the start of the match. The men’s tour makes it discretionary, and Tuesday, on the recommendation of the US Open medical team, they too implemented a 10-minute break, between the third and fourth sets.
That didn’t prevent a few bodies from dropping. Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania retired in the fourth set of his match with a “heat illness,” according to tournament referee Brian Earley. Stefano Travaglia of Italy also trailed two sets to one when he retired due to “cramps.”
“I think I was pretty lucky to play first on: It was pretty difficult conditions,” No. 5 Petra Kvitova said after opening the day session with a straight-set win. “It got hotter and hotter — and tougher. The ice towels helped a lot, of course. When you’re playing, you don’t think about it. When you stop for a while, you feel the heat, from the ground as well.”
There is no provision for closing the roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium or the newly domed Louis Armstrong due to extreme heat. Andrea Petkovic, who lost a tight three-setter to No. 10 seed Jelena Ostapenko on Armstrong, suggested that might not be fair to players toiling on the blistering outer courts.
Petkovic also felt an adverse psychological effect of retreating indoors to take advantage of the heat break.
“It felt hot, definitely,” Petkovic said. “Once I went in the air conditioned room and came out, I felt like it was five billion degrees.”
Most players, many of whom are based in Florida, described versions of “it is what it is” and “it’s the same for both players.”
“It was just about trying to think cool thoughts,” said Caroline Wozniacki, an easy winner in the first match on Ashe.
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