I’ve been up at Rexall Centre all day Tuesday and Centre Court looks more like a swimming pool than a grandstand.
But it’s helped answer a question I’ve had for some time: how do players pass the time?
A rain dance? Maybe more like a cat nap.
For the women with morning/afternoon matches on Tuesday, they’ve been forced to play the waiting game in the players lounge. And mother nature, as we all know, is on her own schedule.
From ping pong, to surfing the web or finding a quiet spot in the corner to sleep, everyone plays a different waiting game.
Former No 1 Tracy Austin knows all about rain delays from her playing days and also in her current role as a commentator. Austin admits juggling between staying alert and being rested for the match was tricky. The most important thing was getting in the scheduled pre-game warm-up which was obviously harder to do without indoor courts.
Napping wasn’t an option for Austin, but other players benefit from some extra Z’s. And even if the clock said meal time, eating wasn’t always the best choice. Austin says even though food provided energy, being too full could result in a Pete Sampras (in reference to him throwing up on court, not winning Grand Slams).