Absolutely no one, not even Rockefeller, is or has been oblivious to New York Atmospheric Law, as cinematographic and suggestive as dechicing. From the first hour of the day, twenty -four hours non-stop Actually, the sirens of the ambulances or the police, the squeaks of the mountains cutting metallic sheet and the screaming of the people in the heart of Manhattan, where they are housed in the different official hotels, a good part of the tennis players who compete in the US Open. The athletes do not escape the lack of control of the city, the encounters or the jams and the daily functions that are generated in the journey that leads to the national complex of American tennis in Queens, crossing the Hudson.
At the entrance to the enclosure, the celebrities e influencerswhile the filmmaker Spike Lee takes pictures while the players and players come and go to access that area, direct witnesses of the show and, also, exposed to the agitation of the dough. To Jannik Sinner, in the eighths after a false start against Denis Shapovalov (7-5, 6-4, 6-3 and 6-2), they surround four wardrobes Protectors When traveling by Times Square to address a commercial commitment and, back to the tennis complex, the supervisor acts as a governor and orders people to animate during the training of Carlos Alcaraz, cited today with Arthur Rinderknech (19.30, Movistar+), in the purest style late show.
Because this is New York, that is, show And more showjaleo and more jaleo here and there. Also for tennis. Some are pleased, most disturb them. “With all my respects, I prefer to play in Europe,” he answers this newspaper Jaume Munar, brand new semifinalist after having broken Zizou Bergs (6-1, 6-3 and 6-4, in 2h 09M), for the first time in the eighths of a large one. To the Mallorcan, calm type, he does not finish convincing the stage because, he explains, his sport demands peace and in this tournament there is no truce, either in the theoretical rest areas, the displacements or even the competition.
“I have raised in a very quiet place,” introduces the Spanish, 28 years [en su caso exteriores, muy distintas a la central] It is even pleasant, because the public squeezes but respects you; However, in day to day it is a tournament that wears you more. When I leave the hotel for a coffee, for example, it seems that you have to ask permission to get in the tail of people and be able to walk at that rate. So everything becomes a little long, but hey, it is one more experience, ”he prolongs.
Munar’s is not an isolated impression. Faced with the stillness and the bucolic climate of Wimbledon, the sober and sophisticated atmosphere of Roland Garros and the distant charm of Melbourne, paradise in the antipodes, in New York the tennis players find a habitat that, no matter how known, does not stop uncomfortable on many occasions. Almost everything is different. Of course, runrún, movements and increasing disinterest in action.
Hand request
“When I was 20 years old I loved this tournament, but the more I age, the less I enjoy being here. It’s all chaotic. There are always smells and a lot of noise everywhere. Sometimes I would like to concentrate a little more,” French protested the Frenchman Adrian Mannarino this week. “It absorbs you energy,” described the Polish Agnieszka Radwanska. On the opening day, the Russian Daniil Medvedev wanted to throw up the referee and the rival, and by the time he wanted to stop it, it was too late. Impossible. “We know that this is not the quieter Grand Slam. But things are here. We have to adapt and accept it,” the Polish IGA Swiatek, champion in 2022 resigns.
The Canarian Carla Suarez will never forget the decibels of the 2018 evening against the American Madison Keys-“It is a disrespect”-and this edition occurred a rocambolesque scene during the Sabalenka-Fernández, when a request for hand momentarily stopped the duel. Alcaraz himself, to which the seal stimulates USAit has had to do the occasional pause while competing because the sounds and, especially, the constant coming and going of the fans for the funds and the sides of the first ring decentralized him.
“I am a quiet person, so I prefer to be without many people around. Here are many people and a lot of traffic, it’s how everything goes at two and that can get into a bit. But that is outside the track,” replies the Murcian to El País. “Inside, I like people and that atmosphere, because I think they resemble my way on the track, so I appreciate it. The tournament is quite good, although perhaps there are certain things that have to improve, like everyone else. I like it very much, perhaps removing that part of the displacements …”, expands.
To the crazy habitual nature, in addition, the aroma that sneaks into the facilities is added from the legalization of marijuana consumption in the city, in 2021. The complex is based next to the Park Park Park, where young people gather and give openwork without stopping the joints. The German Alexander Zverev, in fact, came to baptize track 17 as “Snoop Dogg’s room”, the famous Californian rapper. “You perceive that smell everywhere, from training to the matches,” corroborates the Serbian Novak Djokovic. “It’s the worst of here, it’s very annoying to breathe that while playing,” protested the Norwegian Casper Ruud, already eliminated.
This, however, is New York.
The local contrast
Ac | New York
Logically, local tennis players find in New York a scenario according to their culture and customs. Therefore, although in this edition there have been some surprising falls, such as those of Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe in the third round, enjoy the music and the scenery that permeates the tournament.
“Personally, I unfold well in chaos,” said Tiafoe, a semifinalist in 2022 and 2024. Shelton joined: “I find peace here, I feel more uncomfortable in the quiet tournaments.” In contrast, his compatriot Emma Navarro, a semifinalist in the last edition and now also eliminated, admits the difference in styles.
“Wimbledon is elegant and people are quieter and more respectful,” he said, while Cantabra Cristina Bucsa, which this Sunday (around 00.00) will beat with number one, Aryna Sabalenka, clarifies: “Eye, let’s not forget the French audience, huh? If you touch a bad day …”.
She prefers to stay on the outskirts of the city, such as the Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto, because otherwise, the latter would “exploit” his head. And it already said it at the time Monica Seles, winner in 1991 and 1992: “It is something that you can not really train your brain.”