USA: Rain halts play at U.S. Open after just 16 minutes.

Record ID: 841418

  • Title: USA: Rain halts play at U.S. Open after just 16 minutes.
  • Date: 8th September 2011
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 7, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM UNDER A CLOUDY SKY AND WITH DRIZZLE FANS WEARING RAIN JACKETS ASCENDING ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM ON AN ESCALATOR TENNIS FANS ENTERING ARTHUR ASHE TWO TENNIS FANS LOOKING AT EMPTY AND WET PRACTICE COURTS WET TENNIS COURT VARIOUS OF U.S. OPEN STAFF MOPPING UP WATER FROM THE PRAC
  • Embargoed: 23rd September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Weather,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA28FG0KHCTV8L5ASPCIG33LW44
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Defending champion Rafa Nadal managed just 16 minutes of play at the U.S. Open on Wednesday (September 7) before rain interrupted his fourth-round match against Gilles Muller at a misty Flushing Meadows.
    The Spanish second seed was trailing Luxembourg's Muller 3-0 while American Andy Roddick had made a bright start against fifth seed David Ferrer of Spain, the 21st seed serving at 3-1 when play was suspended.
    Also on court when the rain came was fourth seed Andy Murray, trailing American wildcard Donald Young 2-1. Murray, Nadal and Roddick were later seen leaving the referee's office after expressing concerns about having being sent out to play in damp conditions.
    Organizers were striving to complete as many matches as they could on a jam-packed Wednesday schedule following Tuesday's (September 6) total washout.
    Many tennis fans leaving Arthur Ashe stadium after play suspension told Reuters that they were disappointed. But others said that they understood why players like Nadal had complained about playing in damp conditions.
    "It started to pour just as he kind of made a bit of a fuss about it. He's a little frustrated, he was struggling at the beginning of the match. So it's understandable that he kind of wanted to take advantage of the situation a little bit it seems like. If it's raining, you've got to watch out for your health, it's important," said Grant Gryska who had come down for the tournament from Chicago.
    While Phyllis Bernstein, another tennis fan, said that she understood why the organizers were trying to squeeze in matches despite the rain forecast, but that it was frustrating all the same for U.S. Open attendees like her.
    "I understand they want to get everything done by Sunday, particularly when it's raining three days in a row so I can well understand trying to fit matches on a day when it's raining on and off. Except when I'm the one who's here with an umbrella, then I'm not happy about it," she said.
    Other tennis fans wondered aloud as to why Arthur Ashe or the other stadiums at the U.S. Open didn't have roofs.
    "It's time to maybe up the ante and get some roofs on. It's a modern stadium, I feel like the fans would be appreciative so they don't have to waste money and tickets and travel expenses, just to maybe see tennis," said Rachel Hytken, also from Chicago.
    The weather forecast calls for intermittent rain throughout the day, and if organizers are not able to catch up the rained-out matches, the tournament could be headed for a fourth successive Monday finish.
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