World No. 3 Daniil Medvedev made a strong statement to the TV cameras during his match at the 2023 US Open, citing the hazardous impact of the playing conditions in the US Open.
Medvedev's quarterfinal match against fellow Russian Andrey Rublev was played during the day session on Wednesday when the thermostat recorded temperatures at 99 °F (37 °C), with the humidity levels reaching 50% in one of the hottest days at the 2023 US Open.
A tournament that has already been marred with players' fury of using heavier balls, is now scratching for every alternative to offer players some respite on the court. Players have been using ice stuffed in towels and plastic bags and getting cold air blowing throwing the tubes at the changeover to get some relief.
In his fourth-round win over Alex de Minaur, Medvedev termed the conditions as brutal. It was in that match where he struggled to breathe and needed the help of an inhaler but admitted he had little knowledge of how to use it.
Against Rublev, the Arthur Ashe Stadium, which boasts a retractable roof, was partially closed and the air conditioning circulation was hardly felt. Medvedev still complained of breathing difficulties and requested an inhaler again from the physio and instructions on how to use it.
After one draining exchange, Medvedev turned to the camera and his feelings of the heatwave known, saying, 'You cannot imagine, one player is gonna die and they're gonna see'.
Medvedev went on to complete the match in lung-busting conditions, beating Rublev 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to advance into the semifinal. In his post-match presser, Medvedev gave a frank assessment of the impact of the conditions.
"Yeah, tough, because I could talk a lot, brutal conditions for both of us. I mean, I don't know if it could be seen through the camera, because we are sweating so much and use a lot of towels, I have no skin left on my nose here, and, like, here it's red, but it's not because of the sun so it's not like you're burned but I have no skin left."
"I just saw Andrey in the locker room and his face very red, and it's also not because of the sun so I guess it's the same. That tells everything like we left everything out there."
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