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Nadal Critical Of Roof At Arthur Ashe Stadium, While Federer Embraces New Environment

The roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium was "thrust back into the forefront" of the U.S. Open yesterday after Rafael Nadal "complained that too much noise swirled underneath it, making it difficult for him to compete," according to David Waldstein of the N.Y. TIMES. However, were it not for that $150M structure "protecting the court from the rain, tennis fans would not have witnessed a remarkable late-night, first-round match" between Roger Federer and 19-year old American Frances Tiafoe. Those two matches were the "only ones completed out of a schedule of 32 men’s matches because rain lashed down on the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center throughout the day." Night matches at the U.S. Open have always been "boisterous, but the roof amplified the chatter of fans as they talked through points." Nadal said, "I understand it’s a show at the end of the day, and I enjoy that. I feel part of this, of course. But under the roof, we need to be a little bit more strict about the noise, in my opinion." Tournament officials have "taken steps to eliminate the sounds of air-conditioning and other machinery, but human noises are harder to control, and Nadal tends to be particular about certain things." Federer, who did not play last year when the roof was first introduced, said that it only "enhanced his experience." Federer: "When the crowd really got into it, it was really cool" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/30). Nadal: "There is a lot of noise out here when the roof is closed, big change. At the beginning it's a little bit strange, but you get used to it and it's an amazing call the USTA made (with the roof addition)" ("U.S. Open," ESPN, 8/29).

VOICE OF REASON? In N.Y., Kevin Armstrong notes Nadal simply "echoed the sentiment that players have shared since the USTA introduced the roof a year ago." Nadal said it is "difficult to analyze how the ball is coming when you are not hearing very well the sound of the opponent’s ball" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/30). Nadal said that the decibel level "remains problematic, even compared to indoor matches at the Australian Open or Wimbledon." Nadal: "The USTA made an amazing improvement for the fans, for the players, for the TVs, for everybody with the roof, and now they can make it even a little bit better if they can control a little bit more that." Specifically, Nadal said that he had "trouble communicating" with Dusan Lajovic when he needed his opponent to "pause an extra second before a serve" (N.Y. POST, 8/30). ESPN’s Pam Shriver said the environment is "different with the roof," as players can "hear the people chattering." Nadal played in a match ahead of Federer, and Shriver said with the "growing crowd waiting for Roger and the closed roof, it's hard to hear the ball off the strings." ESPN's John McEnroe added it is a "whole lot louder when the roof is closed. ... We may be here for hours if Roger waits for quiet." McEnroe: "You really do hear the constant chatter from the suites, even the courtside seats as you try to play. ... It's very distracting for the players. They're not used to this noise." Player Madison Keys: "It was definitely loud in here." Meanwhile, Shriver noted "looking up there at the roof and the lights, it's different." Shriver: "Not only is it different because it's at night but because the roof is closed. ... It's blinding. These lights are great, but if the ball goes into the wrong spot, it's like 17 suns” (“U.S. Open,” ESPN, 8/29).

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