Rafael Nadal was one of a number of angry players are forced to take the court Wednesday in foggy conditions in the U.S. Open. The tournament champion to defend his position is known for almost 10 minutes waiting to exit the locker room. He later attacked the tournament referee Brian Early after another band of rain delay after playing 15 minutes on the court.
"It's the same old story," said Nadal at the early decision to play in light rain. "Whatever you think about money."
ESPN Pam Shriver said Nadal appeared to be "poisonous" after going down 0-3 to Gilles Muller before the rain delay. Their match was postponed on Tuesday and delayed one hour on Wednesday due to weather.
In the spirit of Nadal, who never would have begun.
He first expressed his anger with the play passive-aggressive waiting before the game. While Muller was at the door to go to the Arthur Ashe Stadium, Nadal lingered in the locker room for eight minutes before him. He was questioned about it by Tom Rinaldi on ESPN pre-game interview and unconvincing to blame poor communication with the ATP:
"Sorry. It was kind of my fault but the fault of the ATP, as did the court if I'm not ready Gilles. With rain delays, you never know when you have to go to court. I do all tapes, I can not do the bands [30 minutes] before the game. I have to do at the last moment and I have to know exactly when I have to go court. I was told at the last minute. I would go later. What can Gilles happen is waiting for me. So sorry, sorry for Gilles, sorry for everybody. "
It was a great answer, although it sounded a bit hollow. ESPN told viewers that the game would begin at noon Eastern time the previous hour. If Chris Fowler knew Nadal was on court, Nadal is probably too much.
His subsequent actions suggest the same. Nadal was clearly upset during the heating and the beginning of the game. Discouraged, he broke into his first serve and fell 0-3 when the rain stopped play. Nadal briefly exchanged words with beginning and closing the door of the court.
As of 13: 30 EST, the rain continues to fall in New York with little sign of stopping in the near future.
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