Men's final postponed due to rain US Open
Rafael Nadal will have to wait at least one more day for a chance to complete his collection of grand slam titles after persistent rain washed out Sunday's US Open men's final against Novak Djokovic.
For the third year in a row, the championship decider was postponed until Monday after foul weather ruined any chance of the match proceeding as scheduled. Rain began falling less than two hours before the match was due to begin, forcing a halt to the women's doubles final that was nearing completion in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
About three and a half hours later, with no end in sight to the downpour, tournament officials decided to abandon play and reschedule the men's final at 4 p.m.
"Due to the continued uncertainty of the weather forecast for the remainder of the evening, and with the desire to be fair to the players and to our fans, the US Open men's singles championship will be postponed until Monday," tournament organisers said in a statement.
"I'm sure I will be fit to play my best tennis." The postponement once again raised questions about why there is no roof over centre court at the US Open. The centre courts at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon have retractable roofs while organisers of the French Open are in talks about covering up their main court. But US Tennis Association officials have balked at the idea because of the cost of covering Arthur Ashe Stadium, the largest tennis stadium in the world.
"It's technically complex and financially challenging," USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier said. "At a cost of more than $ 150 million, do you spend that on a roof or continue to fund grassroots tennis programs in this country?"
For the third year in a row, the championship decider was postponed until Monday after foul weather ruined any chance of the match proceeding as scheduled. Rain began falling less than two hours before the match was due to begin, forcing a halt to the women's doubles final that was nearing completion in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
About three and a half hours later, with no end in sight to the downpour, tournament officials decided to abandon play and reschedule the men's final at 4 p.m.
"Due to the continued uncertainty of the weather forecast for the remainder of the evening, and with the desire to be fair to the players and to our fans, the US Open men's singles championship will be postponed until Monday," tournament organisers said in a statement.
"I'm sure I will be fit to play my best tennis." The postponement once again raised questions about why there is no roof over centre court at the US Open. The centre courts at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon have retractable roofs while organisers of the French Open are in talks about covering up their main court. But US Tennis Association officials have balked at the idea because of the cost of covering Arthur Ashe Stadium, the largest tennis stadium in the world.
"It's technically complex and financially challenging," USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier said. "At a cost of more than $ 150 million, do you spend that on a roof or continue to fund grassroots tennis programs in this country?"
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