"Daniil Medvedev said that one day a guy would die on the court, something will happen" - Arthur Rinderknech on "extreme" US Open conditions
Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech recently discussed the harsh playing conditions at the ongoing 2024 US Open. According to him, if tennis matches continue to be played out in such conditions, a disaster is likely to arise. To drive home his point, the Frenchman cited Daniil Medvedev's prediction that one day, a player's life could end on the court.
Rinderknech's grim admission came after his second-round loss to No. 6 seed Andrey Rublev at the US Open. The Frenchman looked in control of the encounter after he established a two-set lead. However, Rublev remarkably bounced back and won the next three sets to oust the Frenchman from the prestigious hardcourt Major. The World No. 56 had needed five sets to win his first-round match against Christopher Eubanks as well and started to struggle physically against Rublev in the third set.
The New York weather so far has been unfavorable for players at Flushing Meadows, with the city's extreme heat and humidity taking a toll on the athletes. Following his five-set loss to Rublev, Rinderknech told L'Equipe that he had done everything to keep himself cool in the fifth set, but to no avail. The 29-year-old also revealed that his arm muscles had developed lactic acid within them due to the "extreme" weather.
"Everything, everything! We have the hose that blows fresh air which feels great, but it's not enough. I had an ice pack in the ice cube tray next to me, an ice towel too that I put around my neck every time we changed ends. I drank, I think, 15 one-liter bottles, so I must have drunk 15 liters! I ate everything I could but it's so hard to eat when it's so hot... It was extreme. I had lactic acid in my arms, biceps and triceps on both sides," Rinderknech said.
The Frenchman went on to share his grim assessment of the future, suggesting that if play continues in such conditions, an unfortunate accident is likely to take place. He concluded by citing Daniil Medvedev's words from last year's US Open when the Russian had predicted that a player would die on the court because of the heat and humidity.
"I'm waiting for the day when there's going to be an accident. We're all wreckers on the court, not one player gives up, we don't think, we charge, it's 4,000 degrees and it's dangerous. This year, they slowed down the balls a lot, so there are longer rallies, longer matches. And the time is getting shorter and shorter between each point! Daniil (Medvedev) said that one day, a guy would die on the court. Die, I don't know, but something will happen," Rinderknech added.
On the women's side, it was former World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka who experienced migraines due to the heat during her second-round win at the 2024 US Open over Frenchwoman Clara Burel.
Former WTA World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka also fell prey to New York's relentless heat and humidity in US Open 2R
Victoria Azarenka stormed to a 6-1 first-set win, but the Belarusian started feeling the effects of the bad weather in the second set. Clara Burel ruthlessly capitalized on the two-time Major winner's health issues and established a 3-1 lead in the second set. A changeover followed, during which a tearful Azarenka received treatment for her migraines.
Following treatment, normal service resumed as the Belarusian came from behind to win the second set 6-4 and seal her place in the third round. She later opened up about her experience during her post-match on-court interview, and also shared a post on X (formerly Twitter), referring to her migraines as 'absolute misery'.