Fans want to see some action at the 2023 Houston Open but the weather refuses to give them the tennis that they want.
The 2023 Houston Open is drowning in a sea of scheduling nightmares as torrential rains continue to wreak havoc on the prestigious U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship. The event, originally planned for April 3rd to 9th, has been plagued by weather disruptions, leaving the organizers scrambling to keep the tournament afloat.
After playing for a brief period of time on Thursday, the play was suspended again with the latest statement from the tournament saying: "Play will resume not before 6:30 pm. Doubles matches for the day have been canceled."
Among those that are affected are top-seeded Frances Tiafoe and former champion Steve Johnson, who have yet to begin their highly anticipated second-round match. Meanwhile, John Isner struggles to complete his second-round clash against Gijs Brouwer.
Moreover, there's still one more first-round match that is yet to be finished. The only remaining first-round match between Max Purcell and Daniel Altmaier has been interrupted multiple times, leaving the players in limbo.
If the play doesn't resume today, since the forecast still predicts rain and at this moment all courts are soaking wet, the tournament will have to continue tomorrow. However, the forecast predicts a lot of rain for tomorrow and that would be a disaster for the 2023 Houston Open.
As the weather forecast offers no respite, the Houston Open organizers will have to consider all available options to salvage the tournament. The ATP 1000 event in Monte Carlo immediately follows the Houston Open, leaving no room for an extension of the schedule.
Drawing inspiration from the 2023 ASB Classic, which relocated to indoor courts earlier this year, the Houston Open may have to follow suit. However, there is no guarantee that the necessary indoor clay-court facilities are available, possibly necessitating a change in surface.
0 Comments