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US Open: sweat stops play
NEW YORK, Sept 6, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – The US Open quarter-final between Novak
Djokovic and John Millman ground to an astonishing halt at 2-2 in the second
set Wednesday when the umpire gave Millman permission to leave the court to
change his sweat-soaked clothes.
A break in play of six and a half minutes saw 13-time Grand Slam champion
Djokovic remain on the court as Australia’s Millman — who apologized
profusely to Djokovic — disappeared.
“I could do with a rest,” said Djokovic, who also used the break to send a
ballboy over to his box in the stands seeking to get some tablets he thought
his wife had brought to the tournament for him.
When play resumed, Millman held serve for a 3-2 lead in the second set —
then they both sat down for the changeover.
Millman, ranked 55th in the world and playing in his first Grand Slam
quarter-final, admitted that when he asked the umpire if he could leave to
change, he didn’t know what the rule was.
The US Tennis Association issued a statement on the incident, saying the
umpire deemed the situation to be within the “Equipment Out of Adjustment”
provision — and the moisture dripping from his clothes was hazardous enough
to warrant the break.
A similar situation occurred between the fourth and fifth sets of Rafael
Nadal’s victory over Dominic Thiem on Tuesday, when Thiem was allowed to
retrieve dry shoes from the locker room, which extended the normal amount of
time between sets.
Djokovic said the fierce humidity that has prevailed throughout the
tournament had made competing a sweatier affair than he’d ever seen.
“Incredible,” said Djokovic, who emerged a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 winner over
Millman in a match featuring an array of entertaining but physically draining
rallies. “I have to take 10 shirts every match.”
Djokovic added later that the tournament needs to address the problem of
air circulation on the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1110 hrs