The United States Tennis Association has been dealing with extreme heat throughout this year’s edition of the US Open which has seen the introduction of a heat policy in ATP for the first time. With the match between Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro expected to test the limits of both players, they are taking extra caution to ensure nobody gets seriously ill. As a result, the USTA released a statement on Thursday, reminding players that an official could force them to retire if he/she is perceived to be suffering from heat exhaustion.
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Health concerns at the 2018 US Open are real. Multiple players retired as a direct consequence of the sweltering temperatures. Being careful is admirable, but the line between helping a person out and robbing the fans of a great semi-final match is thin, especially since del Potro’s body language is terrible when it comes to dealing with humidity.
Nadal and del Potro set for a gruelling contest
It is hot in New York, yet not as hot as it was in 2014, the year when Andy Murray called for the implementation of a heat policy. Rafael Nadal will do his best to tire the Argentinian out with his grinding, defensive tactics. “The Bull” is one of the best-prepared tennis players on tour. His conditioning is impeccable, evidenced by his previous two matches. He defeated Russian hopeful Karen Khachanov in four hours and 23 minutes and then ousted Austrian Dominic Thiem after five gruelling sets in four hours and 49 minutes. Those were the two longest matches of the tournament so far.
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In the quarter-finals, Juan Martin del Potro needed three and a half hours to dispatch the last standing American in the men’s draw – John Isner. Receiving two days off before facing Nadal is a true blessing. The extra rest could turn out to be crucial in his quest to survive the heat and outlast his adversary, who holds a 12-5 edge in head-to-head matches but is tied with the Argentinian on hard courts.
The men’s semi-final is set to start around 16:00 local time. Keep in mind that supervisors are allowed to interrupt the contest, or even suspend it in its entirety if deemed necessary.