Eat, sleep or look at the roof': how top tennis players cope with match delays
Briefly

Carlos Alcaraz faced mental challenges during his Cincinnati Open match against Hamad Medjedovic, largely due to the unpredictable scheduling caused by a lengthy preceding match. The preparation time turned out to be more stressful than the match itself, as Alcaraz had to repeatedly warm up despite the long wait. This situation underscores the unique challenges of tennis, where matches often lack fixed start times, requiring players to maintain focus amid uncertainty. Karen Khachanov highlighted that unlike other sports, tennis players must adapt to varying circumstances without a set schedule.
The greatest challenge for Carlos Alcaraz in his third-round match at the Cincinnati Open was simply remaining sane. Hours of preparation turned out to be more stressful than the match itself.
A unique challenge in tennis is that matches usually have no fixed start time, making it vital for players to remain focused through uncertainty.
Karen Khachanov noted that in tennis, unlike sports like NHL or American football, players can't rely on set schedules and must adapt to ever-changing circumstances.
A match can completely flip at any time. Players often recall instances when matches before theirs frustrated them significantly.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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