I'm here in New York, and one commentor and another and another continue telling me that it's scorching hot with breathtaking humidity - they ought to close the roof, many commentators insist.
I respond, Tennis has always been an outdoor sport and many times the players have to adapt to the heat, the humidity, the summer sun overhead at 1:15 pm., and adapt to a breezy wind.
Sure I understand excessive heat can limit audience size and expose a few in the crowd to succumbing under the heat. But the players themselves should never complain about weather conditions and sun placement. It is what it is and play on.
I've mentioned here I've played on courts with the concrete-court temperature in Dallas, Texas, rising to 135 degrees, perhaps above. I've played in winds gusting to 35 and 40 m.p.h., perhaps above. Still, I've adapted to the weather conditions (but serving on the north side of the court between 1:15 and 2:00 p.m. is pure hell in the southern half of the nation).
While people in the stands complain about the New York heat, I received a message from a friend in Dallas. She said, "A miracle has happened. Today, the temperature here is 91 degrees with a north breeze at 10 -15 miles per hour. What a delightful day."
"Sounds wonderful, about the same here," I said. "Except so many in the stands are wilting, melting in or griping about the scorching, or delightful, 90-degree temperature in Flushing Meadows."
To be certain, I adapt by getting outdoors in March with high temperatures mostly in the 60s and 70s, then the 80s in April with 90 degree and 110 degree temperatures awaiting. And I've played in regions where the winds continuously sweep across the Plains.
But I still pray for a cloud in the sky to hide the sun between 1:15 and 2 p.m.
I respond, Tennis has always been an outdoor sport and many times the players have to adapt to the heat, the humidity, the summer sun overhead at 1:15 pm., and adapt to a breezy wind.
Sure I understand excessive heat can limit audience size and expose a few in the crowd to succumbing under the heat. But the players themselves should never complain about weather conditions and sun placement. It is what it is and play on.
I've mentioned here I've played on courts with the concrete-court temperature in Dallas, Texas, rising to 135 degrees, perhaps above. I've played in winds gusting to 35 and 40 m.p.h., perhaps above. Still, I've adapted to the weather conditions (but serving on the north side of the court between 1:15 and 2:00 p.m. is pure hell in the southern half of the nation).
While people in the stands complain about the New York heat, I received a message from a friend in Dallas. She said, "A miracle has happened. Today, the temperature here is 91 degrees with a north breeze at 10 -15 miles per hour. What a delightful day."
"Sounds wonderful, about the same here," I said. "Except so many in the stands are wilting, melting in or griping about the scorching, or delightful, 90-degree temperature in Flushing Meadows."
To be certain, I adapt by getting outdoors in March with high temperatures mostly in the 60s and 70s, then the 80s in April with 90 degree and 110 degree temperatures awaiting. And I've played in regions where the winds continuously sweep across the Plains.
But I still pray for a cloud in the sky to hide the sun between 1:15 and 2 p.m.
