Just In: US Open matches cancelled as players forced off court and statement released
Play on the outside courts at the US Open was cancelled early due to heavy rain at the end of the tournament’s first day. Five men’s singles matches and two women’s singles matches were suspended until day two after organisers were forced to step in. Only the Arthur Ashe Stadium and the Louis Armstrong Stadium have roofs at Flushing Meadows, with the remaining outdoor courts not protected from the elements.
An official statement read: “Sunday’s play on the outside courts at the US Open has been cancelled due to rain. Adrian Mannarino rallied from two sets down and leads Thiago Agustin Tirante 5-2 in the fifth set, among five men’s singles matches suspended and to be finished on Monday.
Four-time champion Novak Djokovic‘s first-round match against Mariano Navone is being played under a closed roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium.”
Some of the stoppages were unlucky for certain players, who were closing in on victories when their matches were suspended.
Emma Navarro was just two games away from beating Lois Boisson on Grandstand, while Mannarino was on the verge of an impressive comeback triumph over Tirante after losing the first two sets.
Rei Sakamoto’s match against Aleksandar Vukic was stopped in the fifth set, with Sakamoto having a 4-3 lead.
Meanwhile, the contest between Kimberly Birrell and Petra Marcinko was paused a 3-3 in the second set, with the Japanese player having won the opening set.
Jacob Fearnley’s match against Martin Landaluce was also suspended, leaving the Brit 4-3 down in the first set heading into day two of the tournament.
Djokovic’s match against Navone was able to continue, but unfortunately for the Serb, it ended in a surprise 7-6 5-7 4-6 6-2 6-1 defeat.
He struggled throughout the contest, vomiting several times and breaking down in tears before he was dumped out in a huge early shock.
Afterwards, Djokovic said: “I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me. I don’t want to take too much out of Mariano’s win. Congrats to him, he’s a nice guy and a fighter, but I didn’t enjoy myself.
“It’s something that I have been carrying pretty much every match this year, vomiting, throwing up.
“And then my whole body starts to collapse basically, cramping and pain – the back just gave up in the end and shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out.
