- At the US Open Wednesday night, John Millman asked for a break in the middle of the game to change his shorts because he was too sweaty.
- Novak Djokovic obliged and took the opportunity to take his shirt off, relax, and have some items fetched for him.
- Tennis fans called the moment bizarre.
- But it really isn't. INSIDER was at the US Open Monday evening. The conditions inside the stadium are sweltering.
- Federer expressed concern over the lack of air circulation in Arthur Ashe after his loss to Millman Monday.
It has been a hot few nights at the US Open.
It's so hot that Australian John Millman asked for an unusual timeout in the middle of gameplay during his quarterfinal match with No. 6-seeded Novak Djokovic on Wednesday night.
Millman approached the net early in the second set to ask for a quick break to change his shorts. The 29-year-old said he was having trouble getting tennis balls out of his pocket because of the heat and humidity in Arthur Ashe stadium.
"I don't know what to do. I'm sweaty," Millman told Djokovic. "I don't want to change now, but ... I'm sorry. I just can't help it."
You can watch the exchange below.
Unprecedented SCENES! "I'm fine to have a little rest" - @DjokerNole. WATCH @johnhmillman LIVE on @SBS / STREAM: https://t.co/g69nEF0am2#SBSTennispic.twitter.com/jDlRIYkalP
— SBS Sport (@SBSSport) September 6, 2018
Djokovic didn't have a problem at all. Instead, the 31-year-old took off his shirt, threw his hands behind his head, and relaxed as he waited for his opponent to return.
He even had some items fetched for him during the break, including, what commentators said was a nasal spray.
Moments before the break, Djokovic was signaling to his wife, Jelena, about something from the court. It may very well have been the spray he received minutes later during the well-timed break.
Tennis fans were calling the moment bizarre and unlike anything they've ever seen.
This is bizarre. Millman going off to change his entire outfit including shoes, because they’re soaked from sweat and he can’t get the balls out of his pockets #USOpen
— Kris Read (@DesignedToFade) September 6, 2018
Millman was so drenched in sweat that he just went and changed while it was 2-2 in the 2nd set and Djokovic is just chilling w/his shirt off. I've never seen anything like this before. #USOpen
— Nico R (@UB_Opethian) September 6, 2018
This has been a wild #USOpen. The heat is causing some serious issues for the players and some crazy timeouts in play.
— Anthony (@AntTheSportsGuy) September 6, 2018
This is the most bizarre sequence I've ever seen 🤔 #USOpen#USOPENxESPN
— Spencer Hamilton (@ddontknow) September 6, 2018
But it really isn't that bizarre.
It's so humid inside Arthur Ashe that the Open implemented an "extreme heat policy" for the tournament this year. Players are allowed a 10-minute break between the third and fourth sets. They are also allowed medical timeouts for "heat-related illness."
Djokovic went on to win the match in a long three sets (6-3, 6-4, 6-4).
In an interview with ESPN after the match, Djokovic said the humidity in the stadium didn't make for easy conditions to play in. He also commented on Millman leaving the court mid-set to change and how he was fine with it.
"He [Millman] was apologizing, actually. He was saying that he felt very sorry that he has to leave the court and change," said Djokovic. "I said, 'Man, go ahead. I'm actually OK sitting down for 10 minutes, you know, just relaxing. I needed that rest. It was great."
INSIDER was at the event Monday evening for Millman's history-setting match against Roger Federer. That night, the conditions inside the stadium were much warmer than they were outside the seating area in the concession.
During a press conference after his match Monday, Federer also commented on the heat inside Arthur Ashe, suggesting poor air circulation in the stadium may be due to the roof that was added in 2016.
"I just thought it was very hot tonight... It was just one of those nights where I guess I felt I couldn't get air. There's no circulation at all [in Arthur Ashe]," said Federer, explaining his performance Monday night.
The world No. 2 had an unusual 76 unforced errors, consisting of multiple double faults. Millman had 28.
"I do believe since the roof is on there is no air circulation in the stadium," Federer added. "I think just that makes it a totally different US Open, plus conditions, maybe we're playing slower this year on top of it."
As the US Open heads into its semifinal matches Thursday, the weather in New York City should start to get cooler. The weekend forecast calls for temperatures in the 70s, which may offer some much-needed relief to players at the tournament.
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