Tennis Australian Open
Plagued by cramps, Medvedev’s opponent crawls across the pitch
As of: 11:03 a.m. | Reading time: 3 minutes
Terence Atmane had to retire in the game against Daniil Medvedev
Source: AFP/WILLIAM WEST
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Terence Atmane has to pay tribute to the heat at the Australian Open. In the third set, his legs gave out due to leg cramps. He crawls and hobbles across the square. The best German player also has problems with the heat, but fights her way into the second round.
It’s hot in Melbourne. Like every year, the Australian Open takes place in the middle of Australian summer. On Sunday the players had to go onto the pitch in 30 degree temperatures. The heat can be a problem for the tennis professionals, especially during the first games of the day, which start at eleven o’clock local time. As was the case for Terence Atmane, who as a qualifier met the Russian Daniil Medvedev in his first round match.
Atmane turned on the favorite in the first set and surprisingly won it 7:5. But in the second round the Frenchman had problems maintaining the high pace and intensity. Medvedev equalized with a confident 6:2 in the sets. After that Atmane had to fight. Even when the score was 1:1, he started having cramps. The 22-year-old could no longer stand and had to crawl across the pitch. Serving was out of the question, Atmane had to serve from below.
Atmane was repeatedly treated for his cramps during the game
Source: AFP/WILLIAM WEST
Medvedev took advantage of this and also won the third round. Despite constant treatment, Atmane finally had to give up when the score was 7:5, 2:6, 4:6 and 0:1. Medvedev consoled his opponent at the net and said after the victory: “It was a difficult match, there were brutal conditions. It is very hot. He played very well and then got cramps.”
Siegemund and Maria move into the second round
Tatjana Maria also had to struggle with the heat in Melbourne. The 36-year-old defied circulatory problems in her first round match against Camila Osorio from Colombia and won 7:5, 6:7, 6:4. Laura Siegemund defeated the number 17 seeded Russian Jekaterina Alexandrowa 6:2, 3:6, 7:6.
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At the start on Sunday, Tamara Korpatsch had already survived the first round. Qualifier Ella Seidel, however, was eliminated. Maria made up for a 1:5 deficit in the first set, then gave up a 5:2 lead in the second round and lost the set in the tiebreak. The German number one then had to be treated for minutes because she had apparently developed circulatory problems in the heat.
Tatjana Maria is in the second round of the Australian Open
Source: dpa/Frank Molter
However, the mother of two survived the weak phase and was the dominant player again in the third section. After 2:52 hours, Maria converted her first match point and then leaned against the net, completely exhausted. She is now dealing with the Italian Jasmine Paolini.
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Siegemund started strong in hot Melbourne and took the first set without any major problems. After that she had difficulties with her serve and couldn’t even get her service through in the entire second set. The decision was made in the third set, where Siegemund initially trailed. But the world number 78 never gave up and was rewarded in the end for a great effort of will. Then she screamed her joy loudly and jumped into the air. Siegemund will now face the Australian qualifier Storm Hunter.