"I personally have never sweated as much as I have here. I have to take at least 10 shirts for every match"
Thursday 6 September 2018 18:21, UK
Novak Djokovic has bemoaned the humidity problems on Arthur Ashe Stadium after sweating his way through to the US Open semi-finals.
Djokovic stayed on course for this third title at Flushing Meadows after keeping his cool mentally to dispatch Australian John Millman 6-3 6-4 6-4 on Wednesday and set up a semi-final with Japan's Kei Nishikori.
Millman, who beat Roger Federer in the previous round, is used to the searing heat in his native Brisbane, but needed to leave court to change with the score level at 2-2 in the second, telling the umpire he was unable to put the ball in his pocket because his shorts were soaked through with sweat.
The US Tennis Association said in a statement that Millman was sweating so profusely that the moisture dripping onto court had made the surface too dangerous to play on.
Djokovic, for whom this was an 11th consecutive quarter-final victory, has called on US Open organisers to find a solution.
"I personally have never sweated as much as I have here. I have to take at least 10 shirts for every match. It's literally after two games you're soaking. And Roger, he never sweats that much. But we saw him a couple of nights ago," said the 31-year-old Serb.
"I asked the chair umpire whether they are using some form of ventilation or air conditioning down at the court-level side, and then he says that he's not aware of it, only what comes through the hallways.
"I think that this tournament needs to address this. Because whether it's night or day, we just don't have air down there. It feels like a sauna. This has been definitely the toughest US Open in the last 10 years that I have played in, in terms of conditions."
Millman could not quite find the level he showed against Federer in a clash that lasted nearly three hours.
"These night matches, the humidity goes through the roof," said the 29-year-old from Brisbane. "You're dripping. But that's no excuse or anything. I'd play in a swimming pool if I got to play a quarter-final every week at a Grand Slam."
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