Tennis players and the rain at the Argentina Open: player privacy when the water prevents them from playing

After the suffocating heat of the first days of the week, it was cold in Buenos Aires on Friday and the sky was covered with menacing gray clouds. And a little after noon, when in the Guillermo Vilas Court Thomas Etcheverry had just won the first set against Cameron Noriein the first game of the day, rain appeared on the scene in the Open Argentina. The water soaked the brick dust and forced the action to stop on two occasions, on that pitch and in the second most important pitch for the Buenos Aires club, where the Colombian Nicholas Barrientos and the Uruguayan Ariel Behar they faced the Argentines for the doubles Massimo Gonzalez AND Andrew Molteni.

With matches suspended, the stands were emptied and the players returned to the dressing rooms, where they had to ‘kill’ for a long time until the bad weather gave way and the competition could resume. And, fortunately for them, the organization and sponsors of the tournament – aware that this type of postponement usually occurs in every edition – have prepared several options for them. to entertain them.

One of the main attractions of the Hall of playersequipped with large and comfortable armchairs that invite you to rest and many other comforts, it is the Play station, a very popular distraction during circuit trips, especially among the youngest. In the tournament duels are usually set up between compatriots, but also between players of different nationalities, which end up being almost as intense as those that occur on the pitch.

Although, of course, there is never a shortage of classic tricks or other card games, which arouse in some the same passion as video games.

If the slogan is to recover energy during those forced breaks, very close to that rest area that players have available own dining room, which they share with their families and teams. There you can enjoy some snack or have a delicious coffee.

For the more professional, who don’t want to lose heat to get back on the pitch well connected, the gym it is the ideal place. Installed by one of the largest chains in the city, it has treadmills, dumbbells and weights, mats and various other devices, so that tennis players can prepare, stretch and take care of their physiques.

In the open air, to be exploited when the rain is not very heavy (or, why not, on a sunny day), there is a tennis court badger which has built another of the contest’s sponsors, a well-known network of petrol stations and fuel brands. Unlike the traditional ones, which are usually found on beaches, instead of sand, the one on lawn tennis it has carpet. And it could already be seen who González and his partner Molteni in a one-on-one duel.

On a Friday quarterfinal, rain took center stage at the Argentina Open. But the players had plenty to enjoy as they waited for the bad weather to subside so they could get back out on the pitch to compete.