Can't stand the heat? Quit: Hewitt

Hard to believe here in Wisconsin, but it's hot Down Under in the run-up to the Australian Open (beginning January 14).

Via The Sydney Morning Herald

LLEYTON HEWITT advised his fellow professionals to shape up or quit the sport after several raised concerns over soaring temperatures on day one of the Adelaide International at Memorial Drive.

...

"It's not comfortable for anyone to play sport on days like this, but that's what it's about, gruelling out matches," Hewitt said. "There shouldn't be a heat rule regardless. We're athletes, and if you don't put in the hard yards then don't play.

"The Australian Open is the only tournament that has a heat rule. There's been a lot of guys cramping in the past in the US Open in tough conditions, and they've never brought in a heat rule there.

"So it's only fair the ATP week-in, week-out [don't]. We're only playing best of three sets, too, so if you can't last in that, then get a new job."

That got Lleyton Hewitt some admiring attention. Which is what he's all about.

Unlike the author of this article, who subliminally suggests his opinion, I mostly agree with Hewitt. But like the author, I doubt he'd be saying that if he hadn't just lost in the first round of the doubles, so that HE won't have to play both singles and doubles in this week's heat.

That's the real problem. Professional players should be able to take the heat, especially when it's only best-of-three sets. But this extreme heat does require more time between matches to recover and rehydrate for the next match. If you want players to enter both the singles and the doubles, you must accommodate.

There is no easy solution. The existing heat rule is unfair.

This is how it works: When conditions reach a red line, no new matches are started, but matches underway are completed. The winners of those completed matches are at a real disadvantage in the next round against the winners of matches delayed until after dark.

Closing the roof on stadium courts is also unfair, because not all players get to play their matches on stadium courts.

Probably the best solution is to just make sure there is a safe minimum time between matches. And longer breaks between sets.

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