Jannik Sinner and Eliot Spizzirri played each other in the third round of the Australian Open. The American gave a tough fight to Sinner, who by the second set was already feeling exhausted by the extreme heat conditions.
Early in the third set, the Heat Index reached 5, prompting the chair umpire to call for a closure in play so that the roof could be closed. The Heat Index combines air temperature, radiant heat, humidity, and wind speed readings to give a number. As per the rules, if that number reaches 5.0, the Australian Open’s extreme heat policy requires play to be suspended, and if there is a retractable roof, it must be closed.
Play was briefly halted, and it gave the cramping Sinner the required rest to come back in style, induce a break, and go on to win the remaining two sets.
After the game, Spizzirri confronted the media, where he made his feelings clear regarding whether the conditions were so bad that it required the stoppage of play. He took the example of the time he played college tennis in much worse conditions.
“Uh, I mean, the rules are the rules,” Spizzirri said. “I don’t have a say in what the rules are. Uh, I was just saying that I’ve played in way worse conditions. I’ve trained in way worse conditions. In college, we played in brutal conditions at times in Austin.
“So, uh, you know, maybe that’s a good thing to have under my belt, that I’ve played and trained in those conditions. But at the same time, I’m not going to lie and say that it didn’t feel crazy hot. Um, and that’s just comparative to what I’ve trained in and been in before.”
Adding to it, Spizzirri also said that he respects the rules and he understands how playing in such conditions for an extended period of time could affect the body.
Jannik Sinner Feels “Lucky” For Heat Rule
Jannik Sinner lost the first set 6-4 to Eliot Spizzirri. He was getting drained in the second set and even suffered cramps, which affected his movement to a great extent. After the 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 win, Sinner acknowledged getting lucky because of the heat rule that resulted in a break in play while the roof was getting closed at Rod Laver Arena.
“I got lucky with the heat rule,” Sinner said.
The heat index reaching 5 couldn’t have come at a better time, as Sinner was down 3-1, and he was not doing very well. When the play resumed, Sinner looked much better with his movement and energy. He broke Spizzirri and went on to win the set 6-4. Sinner broke him again in the fourth set to win the contest.
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