[Misa] Extreme heat claims Krajicek in Melbourne
Extreme heat claims Krajicek in Melbourne
By Paul Tait
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The Australian Open's extreme heat policy was invoked
for the second day in succession on Saturday but it came too late for
Dutchwoman Michaella Krajicek, who retired from her match suffering heat
stress.
Third seed Amelie Mauresmo won the first set of her third-round match against
Krajicek 6-2 before the unseeded Dutchwoman called for assistance at the
change of ends.
Tournament medical staff checked Dutchwoman Krajicek's temperature and pulse
as the 17-year-old sat courtside before deciding not to continue.
Only minutes earlier tournament organizers had announced that the heat rule
was being invoked because the temperature had risen above 35 Celsius (95
Fahrenheit).
By mid-afternoon the mercury had risen to over 38C (100F) and even hotter
conditions were forecast for Sunday.
Under the rule, new matches on outside courts will not start until the
temperature eases, although matches already underway must be completed.
TEMPERATURE SOARED
New matches will also not begin on the two main courts, Rod Laver Arena and
Vodafone Arena, until the retractable roof over both stadiums is closed after
current matches are finished.
The roof was not immediately closed over Rod Laver Arena because the match
between Mauresmo and Krajicek had already begun. It was closed after Krajicek
pulled out.
"It is tough, obviously a little bit more for her than for me," Mauresmo
said, adding she had drunk about two liters of water during her brief match
to guard against the heat.
The rule was also invoked on Friday as the temperature soared to 40C (104F).
Frenchman Fabrice Santoro said after surviving a draining five-set match on
Friday that tournament officials should consider lowering the temperature at
which the rule is applied.
He admitted that he sacrificed the fourth set of his match against eighth
seed Gaston Gaudio to conserve energy before he went on to win 6-3 6-2 5-7
1-6 6-4.
Mauresmo said court conditions changed dramatically when the roof was closed
and echoed men's number two seed Andy Roddick in saying that some players
preferred to play in the heat.
"Some players like it, to play in these conditions, and want to play because
they say, 'I'm stronger physically so it might be an advantage for me to play
in these conditions'," Mauresmo said.
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 203.203.34.44
NED-BEL-LUX 近期熱門文章
PTT體育區 即時熱門文章