Sports
VIDEO: Ridiculous Scenes Unfold at Madrid Open 2022 as Rain Plays Spoil-Sport
Mutua Madrid Open commenced in the year 2002 as a men’s event. However, in the year 2009, the tournament was transformed into a joint event. Currently, the tournament serves as a Masters 1000 event for both ATP and WTA.
Madrid Open is one of the three clay-based tournaments in Europe and is an outdoor event. Therefore, the chance of rain hampering the matches is really high. Although one would expect such a prestigious event to be prepared for the worst, it isn’t the case. Recently, a rain shower brought shame to the management by engulfing the entire court and leaving the staff stunned.
The Madrid Open Crisis
We have earlier seen matches being stopped by a sudden rainfall. But what happened at Arantxa Sanchez court was something different. The recent rainfall brought the tussle between Belinda Bencic and Ons Jabeur to an unexpected halt. However, what amused the audience was the staff’s struggle to remove the water that the cover harvested.
How is tennis a real sport. #MMOpen pic.twitter.com/GlQ8Yeb8JY
— Andrew Eccles (@AJEccles) May 2, 2022
The cover, which was meant to protect the court from being rain-soaked, became a vessel and started storing water. With no modern technology to utilize, the staff was forced to remove the water from the cover with buckets in order to avoid stagnation.
A general view during the match between Rafael Nadal of Spain and Francis Tiafoe of The United States during day six of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on May 09, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Speaking of the match, it resumed shortly, and the result favored Ons Jabeur. The Tunisian outclassed Belinda Bencic, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 in the round of 16. Now that the former world no.7 has booked a seat to the quarterfinals, she will gear up to stretch a run till finals of this event.
Annabel Croft Has Something to Say
Annabel Croft, the former British tennis professional, spoke about the incident. She said that the volume of stagnant water reminded her of ‘kiddies swimming pool’. She said, “That is extraordinary. I have never seen anything like that. It is like they are bailing out a rowing boat.”
Tennis – WTA Masters 1000 – Madrid Open – Caja Magica, Madrid, Spain – May 5, 2021 Spain’s Paula Badosa in action during her quarter final match against Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic REUTERS/Sergio Perez
Further, she mocked the organizers for being least prepared as she continued, “I think they need a pump. They have gone to the old-fashioned buckets.”
Madrid Open will start with its women singles’ last rounds from 4th May onwards. The men’s event has already begun with top stars such as Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and others set to join the action this week.
Watch this story: Celebrating the multi-faceted Ashleigh Barty varied interests outside tennis on her 26th birthday
The post VIDEO: Ridiculous Scenes Unfold at Madrid Open 2022 as Rain Plays Spoil-Sport appeared first on EssentiallySports.
