Martina Navratilova and Lindsay Davenport both took issue with how the Australian Open handled the events that transpired yesterday.
In fact, the first of these two legendary pundits even claimed they made a big mistake which directly impacted Jannik Sinner.
The former world number one looked in real trouble out on Rod Laver Arena, facing the unseeded Eliot Spizzirri in the third round.
With the scores tied at one-set-all, and with the American up a break in the third, Sinner was seen stumbling around the court, battling against full-body cramps brought on by the extreme heat.
Were it not for a huge slice of fortune, with the Australian Open closing the roof due to the newly-enforced heat rule, Sinner would likely have seen his title defence cut short.
Martina Navratilova and Lindsay Davenport discuss the Australian Open’s heat rule
Speaking about this decision on Tennis Channel, the panel all seemed to be in agreement regarding how the Australian Open should have tackled this issue.
Navratilova began by admitting that Sinner got lucky, noting: “I mean, he got the break he needed because you saw, he could barely walk. He was done. He would have lost that game for sure. Instead, he gets the reprieve, the body goes back to normal, he breaks back, and the match is completely different.
Were the Australian Open wrong to allow Jannik Sinner time off court when he was cramping?
“He was down a break in the second set as well. He could have been down two sets to love and a break. So lots of things went his way, but most of all, his mind stayed with it.”
Davenport then questioned why they needed to make the change mid-match, rather than preemptively closing the roof: “The question, should they have just started the courts with the roof closed? Everyone knew it was going to get up to a temperature where the roofs were gonna be closed, and maybe you just suspended on the outside courts.
“I don’t know what the right answer is. I know that changing the conditions midway through a set, that’s a tough one. Years ago, it used to be you had to finish the set and then they would change things, but I don’t know, at 3-1, that’s so tough. It changed everything in that match.”
Navratilova then chimed back in to add: “You know, in the middle of a match, they’re gonna close the roof. So when you know there’s rain coming, they close the roof preemptively, but they don’t do it for heat, so it doesn’t make any sense.
“That way, the same time, the rule is very clear. So timing was horrible for Spizzirri, but they should have just kept the roof closed.”
Whilst some might argue that the 24-year-old was saved by the bell, others will suggest that the Australian Open put Sinner in danger with their decision-making.
What did Jannik Sinner say about the roof closure?
It is no secret that Sinner got lucky yesterday with the decision to close the roof.
In fact, in his press conference, he even admitted this himself.
He claimed: “Yeah, I mean, it was hot today. Started to cramp a little bit in the third set, which then after by time it went slowly away. I know my body slightly better now with a bit of experience also, you know, trying to handle certain situations a bit better.
Who has been the best player at the Australian Open so far?
“And yeah, got lucky today. At the point when they closed the roof, it takes a little bit time. Tried to loosen up a little bit. It helped. Changed a bit also the way of how to play certain points. That helped me today, for sure.”
By the letter of the law, the Australian Open followed protocol yesterday. But as Davenport and Navratilova suggested, perhaps common sense should have prevailed.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
