TENNIS- US OPEN finals weekend continues. Then it's onwards to Japan and China.

[Raahh]

Not the most exciting title.

I suppose Laver Cup and Davis Cup must be happening too soon.

But was he really though?

I did wonder.

I didn’t realise that Jannik had retired - sounds awful. I know that tennis players get paid a lot of money but the conditions that they have to play in seem to be getting more and more difficult, especially with the heat and humidity

The conditions this week in Shanghai seem particulary bad- I don't remember it being like this previously. There have been so many retirements. Goffin retired from his match yesterday too.

The top players will also be wanting to make sure they end the year in one piece- so they start next year ready to defend everything again.

I'm watching Shang/Borges- Shang has the doctor out- they are taking temperatures/ice/ he looks like he has had some cramp.

This can't be good. It's meant to be a tennis match- not survival of the fittest.

@Raahh
was just thinking the same
it’s tough going for em.

They are falling like 9 pins. Hope Novak doesn't sail through and win the whole thing.

Honestly, I will be annoyed if this gives Djok a straight run to the final. He's bound to pull strings somehow, to make sure he gets to play when the conditions are at least a bit better for him.

We keep being told he amazingly popular he is in China .

I want to watch the Musetti match- I'm just worried he will end up passing out from dehydration too!

It's really a shame when matches start being decided by who can better endure the conditions. Fitness and conditioning is part of tennis but for this many players to be retiring the conditions must be extreme. I thought there was a heat policy where the players get a 10 minute break between sets? Or is that only certain tournaments?

There has definitely been a heat rule in place at tournaments before Ice- I don't know if the issue here is the humidity rather than just the heat? They've still got ice packs (and Djok had his oven mitts out).

And cramping has always been something that players havenot been allowed treatment for (yesterday, Naomi suggested players sometimes bend the truth a little if they have cramp and claim to have something else wrong in order to get treated)- because cramp is just lack of condition.

There's only so much fluids /salts they can take on board without that becoming an issue in itself.

It doesn't help, when some players are wearing what look like 'wet look' fabrics, which look even wetter when they get they get sweaty .

(Obviously cramp isn't only lack of condition- but sometimes, cramping can be dueto lack of training/not being prepared, which is is why it is not considered a 'medical' issue).

I'm starting to think they should have a little plunge pool next to the court, to cool off- like divers do.

It's so warm, they would probably dry off pretty quickly..

oh dear Darderi is getting het up.

I saw a clip of Holger who was struggling badly asking why there’s no heat rule and whether they want a player to die on the court!

Good set from Lore- Darderi threw away his chances after pulling the set back.

Oh dear. Darderi keeps letting things get to him. I want Loreto win, but Darderi has played well at times, it 's a shame he keeps letting his frustration get the better of him.

Well done Lore.

Common sense prevails and Sascha is being allowed to change his shoes because he sweating through his trainers.

And he was quick about it, didn't mess about.

Win for Rinderknech.

Daniil /ADF up next. I will miss most of that sadly.

Learner Tien has beaten Cam. He must be super fit, he came straight from the Shanghai final and didn't even get a first round bye like Jannik did.

Not sure who I want to win between ADF and Daniil, but just hoping no one has to retire.

I don't know who I want to win either- and it's a bit rubbish when the best result is 'the one who manages to last the longest' !

Daniil is a deceptive character- he always looks knackered before he even starts playing, so we probably can't read too much into his physical state, until they stretcher him off.

Daniil's shirt is absolutely disgusting. I think he wants to get this match done as quickly as possible.

Ooh, ADF with the underarm serve on set point.

Wuhan is like the new MN colours 🕶️

Well done Daniil. Given the conditions I'm glad it didn't have to go to a third set.