David Nalbandian has urged a review of the Australian Open’s extreme-heat policy after winning the match against wilting opponent Janko Tipsarevic in scorching heat on Tuesday.
The Argentine eighth seed reached the second round when the world number 64 Serbian, labouring in the intense heat, called a halt early in the fifth set.
Nalbandian, who clawed back from two sets and a break down, was leading 6-7 (5/7) 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-0, 2-1 at the time of Tipsarevic’s retirement.
Nalbandian, a semifinalist here last year after three consecutive quarterfinal appearances, will face Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador in an all-South American match in the next round.
The Argentine, one of the most durable players on the circuit, described playing conditions as ”terrible” and ”disgusting” and said more should be done to look after the players’ welfare in the extreme heat.
”When we are playing in these conditions I think you need more help,” he said.
”Okay the rules are like this, so we couldn’t change it [today]. But if you ask everybody, they will say that we need more help.”
Nalbandian said it was a case of more help from the trainers during changeovers to get through the match.
”I don’t know if you stop [the match] or not. That’s difficult to say when to stop,” he said.
”But maybe you can get more massage or more treatment or whatever you need.
”I think when the conditions are like this you start feeling very bad on the court, very bad.
”And it’s not only cramping, it’s not only injury, it’s everything. It’s very disgusting playing like this. I think we need something else than two timeouts.”
Nalbandian said he disguised how he was feeling from the melting Tipsarevic, who visibly deteriorated after serving for the match only to be broken back and lose the third set tiebreaker and lose all hope.
”You just try to keep energy. That’s the most important thing. Then after it’s more like a mind game,” he said.
”I mean, it’s everything in the mind. I was very tired as well, but I didn’t show to him how I feel it.
”He started cramping or something, and he showed me that he was a little bit tired, so I keep very focused, very tight out there so I could make it through.
”When you are there, you feel terrible in the heat. I mean, you’re just thinking about getting to the changeovers and sitting for a few minutes and drink water and go on again.
”It’s very difficult. Everything is going through your mind in these conditions, everything.” – Sapa-AFP