Players are ‘paranoid’ about heat
Print Edition
Ivan Dodig feared he might die and Serena Williams said the high temperatures were making her “paranoid” yesterday as sweltering conditions continued at the Australian Open.
With temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius for the second straight day, Dodig became the latest casualty when he retired with severe cramping after four sets against Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur.
“I was thinking I could maybe even die here,” said Dodig, calling for an afternoon break in play. “It’s not acceptable to play in these conditions.”
British doubles player Colin Fleming said the courts were burning his body when he lay down to receive physio treatment.
“I said to the physio, ‘It’s literally boiling lying on this, so can you hurry up?’” he said. “It was frying my body.”
Temperatures are forecast to remain high today and tomorrow before dropping sharply on Saturday.
Dodig’s complaints follow dismal scenes on Tuesday, when Canada’s Frank Dancevic blacked out, China’s Peng Shuai vomited in the extreme heat and a ball boy collapsed.
Ice packs and isotonic drinks remained in high demand yesterday as temperatures hit 41.5 Celsius in the early afternoon, but then dropped to 32 Celsius by 6pm.
Dodig became the tournament’s 10th withdrawal or retirement, after a Grand Slam record-equaling nine players pulled out during the first round.
Although most of the players cited injuries, Dutch player Robin Haase was another victim of cramping, which is associated with hot conditions.
Tournament organizers said no players needed medical help yesterday, adding conditions were not dangerous enough to warrant halting play.
Williams said she had become obsessed with staying hydrated and drinking enough water, to the extent that it was keeping her awake at night.
“I kept waking up in the middle of the night last night, just paranoid. I just wanted to stay hydrated,” she said.
“The last thing I want to do is to cramp in this weather. It can happen so easy.
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