Djokovic urges schedule change as players struggle with Tokyo heat

Published

3 years ago

July 24, 2021

World number one Novak Djokovic on Saturday in Tokyo called for organisers to rethink the Olympic tennis schedule because of the hot and humid conditions in the city.

Djokovic eased to a 6-2 6-2 victory over Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien on Saturday.

But tougher assignments lie between him and a much-coveted gold medal for Serbia, and the weather could yet prove his most difficult opponent.

It is well known that Djokovic struggles with heat and humidity, and he said with a wry smile: “I’m still waiting to meet the player that likes this kind of weather.

“Playing in extreme heat and humidity that is 90 per cent, or God knows how much, is very challenging.

“Obviously it’s the same for everyone and it’s something we’ve known coming into Tokyo, we expected that the conditions were going to be very tough.

“But before you come here and experience that, you don’t really know how difficult it is.

“I felt like there was trapped hot air that was absorbed by the surface. It was tough, and probably tougher for the earlier matches.”

Matches played at ATP and WTA tournaments held in similar conditions often do not start until late afternoon.

But in Tokyo all courts start at 11 a.m, meaning players are competing in the hottest part of the day.

Later starts were actually considered.

But the organisers, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), needed to plan for potential rain or extreme heat breaks, as well as a lack of infrastructure for very late finishes.

A daytime schedule was therefore deemed best.

An ITF spokesperson said: “Player health is paramount and great consideration has been given to the 11 a.m or a later start.

“The decision to retain 11 a.m was made based on data, a nine-day event and to accommodate factors such as local authority restrictions due to COVID-19 and the unpredictability of the weather.

“Extreme conditions will always put pressure on a schedule and make an optimum schedule challenging. Rainfall is as much of an issue as extreme heat. An Extreme Weather Policy is in place.

“Tokyo 2020 competition officials have set procedures to monitor the heat stress index which determine whether play should be modified and have implemented these procedures today.”

Djokovic added: “I don’t really get why ITF doesn’t want to move the matches. This was the last centre court match and it was finished before 5 p.m.

“There is hopefully some kind of an understanding from ITF on what they’ve seen.

“All the athletes train and dream of being at an Olympic Games and then playing for half an hour and retiring, you don’t want to have the Olympic experience that way.

“But we have to accept whatever the circumstances are.”

Zarina Diyas was the only player to withdraw mid-match but many struggled.

Explaining how he felt on court, Djokovic said: “You’re constantly dehydrated, you feel you have weights on your shoulders because there’s so much heat and humidity and stagnated air.”

Djokovic, who is bidding to become the first man to win a Golden Slam of all four major titles and singles gold in the same year, will next take on German Jan-Lennard Struff.

Second seed Daniil Medvedev also found the conditions tough in a 6-4 7-6 (10-8) victory over Alexander Bublik.

Medvedev said: “Like they do in Mexico, the matches maybe should start at six (p.m) because the heat actually gets much, much lighter. We all try to practise at six.

“The fact that we have only one minute between changeovers is a joke. If you ask, let’s say 200 tennis players that are here, I think 195 will tell you that one minute is a joke. It should be 1:30.”

In the women’s draw, sixth seed Iga Swiatek followed in her father’s footsteps by making her Olympic debut with a 6-2 6-2 victory over Mona Barthel.

Tomasz Swiatek competed for Poland in rowing at the Games in Seoul in 1988.

Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens played the last singles match of her career on Saturday, losing 4-6 6-3 4-6 to Marketa Vondrousova.

But there were wins for French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova and ninth seed Belinda Bencic.

dpa/NAN

Nigerian-British Bodybuilder Samson Dauda Wins 2024 Mr Olympia, Secures Historic $600,000 Prize

Published

1 month ago

October 16, 2024

Matthew Eloyi

Nigerian-British Bodybuilder Samson Dauda Wins 2024 Mr Olympia, Secures Historic $600,000 Prize

Nigerian-British bodybuilder Samson Dauda has claimed the prestigious 2024 Mr Olympia title, making history with a record-breaking $600,000 prize—the largest ever awarded in the sport.

The thrilling finale of the 2024 Olympia competition took place at the Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas, United States, where Dauda faced off against 15 of the world’s top bodybuilders.

After an intense contest, Dauda secured the top spot, surpassing runner-up Hadi Choopan and 2023 champion Derek Lunsford, who finished third.

Dauda’s journey to bodybuilding stardom began in Lagos, Nigeria, where he was born, before moving to the United Kingdom during his teenage years. Initially a rugby player, he discovered bodybuilding through the encouragement of his teammates.

In 2017, Dauda earned his IFBB Pro card after winning the overall title at the IFBB Amateur Diamond Cup in Rome, marking a turning point in his career. He made his professional debut the following year at the EVLS Prague Showdown, finishing 5th.

His first major win as an IFBB Pro came in 2021 at the EVLS Prague Pro, which earned him a qualification for the 2022 Mr. Olympia competition, where he placed 6th in his debut.

Now, as the 2024 Mr Olympia champion, Dauda has cemented his place among bodybuilding’s elite, achieving a landmark victory in the sport.

Sports

Mbappe To Miss Playing For 3 Weeks Over Thigh Injury

Published

2 months ago

September 25, 2024

Matthew Eloyi

Mbappe To Miss Playing For 3 Weeks Over Thigh Injury

Real Madrid forward, Kylian Mbappe, is set to miss playing for the next three weeks due to a thigh injury, ruling him out of Sunday’s highly anticipated Madrid derby against Atletico Madrid.

The 25-year-old French international sustained the injury during Madrid’s 3-2 La Liga victory over Alaves on Tuesday.

Mbappe, who netted his seventh goal of the season just before half-time, was substituted in the 80th minute, with Arda Guler coming on to replace him.

At the time of his exit, Madrid were leading 3-0, but two late goals from Alaves made for a tense finish.

Following the match, Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti reassured fans about Mbappe’s condition, stating, “He’s fine, he’s fine, a little bit (over) loaded. He asked me to change to avoid problems.”

However, a medical assessment on Wednesday revealed that Mbappe has sustained “an injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg,” according to a statement from the club.

The forward is now expected to be sidelined until mid-October.

This injury not only rules Mbappe out of the Madrid derby but also puts him in doubt for Real Madrid’s Champions League clash against Lille on October 2.

This would have marked Mbappe’s first return to France at club level since his summer move from Paris Saint-Germain to the Spanish capital.

Real Madrid have faced several injury setbacks this season, with Brahim Diaz and Dani Ceballos still out of action.

However, the club received a boost with the news that Eduardo Camavinga is set to return to first-team training on Thursday and could be available for the match.

Sports

Super Eagles Aim for Victory in Crucial AFCON Qualifier Against Rwanda

Published

2 months ago

September 9, 2024

Matthew Eloyi

Super Eagles Aim for Victory in Crucial AFCON Qualifier Against Rwanda

As the Super Eagles prepare for their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Rwanda, Coach Augustine Eguavoen is confident that his squad is riding a wave of momentum.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s clash at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Eguavoen stated, “We have the right mentality now, and the mood in the camp is excellent. Everyone is eager for us to pick up the three points in Rwanda and stay firmly on top of the qualifying table.”

The Nigerian team made an impressive start to their campaign with a dominant 3-0 victory over Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday. Now, they aim to solidify their position with another win.

“We are here for business, and I am happy that everyone is on the same page,” the coach added, noting that the team arrived in Rwanda early enough to rest and prepare for official training.

Leading the Super Eagles, team captain William Ekong emphasized the importance of securing all three points. “Our target is the three points, and we have spoken among ourselves on the imperative of going hard for it from the first blast of the referee’s whistle,” he said.

Acknowledging Rwanda’s strength, Ekong added, “It is going to be a tough game because Rwanda have a good team and got a point from their first match. We must not relent throughout the 90 minutes.”

The Nigerian delegation, led by NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, arrived in Kigali on Sunday, along with 23 players, officials, and key stakeholders. The match is set to kick off at 3 p.m. local time (2 p.m. Nigeria time), as the Super Eagles aim to continue their unbeaten streak in the AFCON qualifiers.

Rwanda’s Amavubi will pose a challenge, having forced a 1-1 draw against Libya in their opening match. However, with their current momentum, the Super Eagles are determined to secure another victory and maintain their lead in the group.