The 2023 US Open has been a tough competition for players, not just because of the level of competition but also because of the extreme heat and humidity at Flushing Meadows.
Due to the high temperatures and humidity, the city of New York issued a heat advisory which will last until Thursday.
Daniil Medvedev, the No. 3 seed, even commented during the quarterfinals that one player is likely to suffer from the conditions.
Medvedev managed to win his match against Andrey Rublev with a score of 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, but he admitted that it was a challenging experience. The 27-year-old player needed medical attention and even used an inhaler during the match.
“It was brutal. The only good thing I see in these conditions is both suffer, so it’s tough for both of us,” said Medvedev in his post-match interview, still with an ice-stuffed towel around his neck.
He added, “At the end of the first set, I kind of couldn’t see the ball anymore. I played with sensations and tried to go for it, tried to run and tried to catch the balls. He did the same.”
Medvedev is not the only player to comment on the effects of the heat. The retractable roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium had to be partially closed during the match between No. 1 Novak Djokovic and No. 9 Taylor Fritz.
Djokovic, who requested the afternoon session, managed to win the match with a score of 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. However, both players struggled with the high temperatures and humidity.
Djokovic shared, “Very humid conditions, difficult to play for both players, but that’s why we train, try to get ourselves in the best possible conditions to deliver. Not easy, but you’ve got to fight.”
Fritz mentioned that he felt better as the match progressed but acknowledged that the humidity was draining.
“I feel it’s just really humid. It feels like it just drains you and it didn’t help that they partially closed the roof with that because I think it made it a lot less hot but a lot more humid inside the stadium,” Fritz said.
Throughout the tournament, players have been taking measures to cope with the heat, such as pouring water on themselves and using ice. Male players have also been taking off their shirts during breaks, and Frances Tiafoe even brought 20 shirts to each match so he could change frequently and stay as fresh as possible.
“I thought it was super heavy tonight, really muggy. Super humid,” Tiafoe said after losing to Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals on Tuesday night. “I was sweating a lot. Balls were really heavy.”
While all players have experienced the challenges posed by the heat, some players like Aryna Sabalenka, who is now in the semifinals and will become world No. 1 next week, have prepared for these harsh conditions.
“It was hot, but because I did my preparation in Florida — I mean, what can be worse than Florida? I mean, in July and June, you know. Not, like, overall,” Sabalenka said after defeating No. 20 seed Qinwen Zheng 6-1, 6-4 in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. “So I think that really helped me today to stay strong and not really get tired because of the heat.”
The 2023 Australian Open also faced similar weather challenges with extreme heat and rain in Melbourne in January. Fortunately, for the US Open, temperatures are expected to drop to the 80s on Friday, although there may be some rain at Flushing Meadows.
