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Thursday, September 08, 2011
Players take a stand, walk out
Wonderful, Andy Roddick. Wonderful!
They were sent off court around 11:20 a.m. while officials dried the court with towels, vacuumed it and swept it.
But as soon as the players returned, they immediately went to check the area behind the baseline. Shouting ensued.
“What is that?” Roddick said to Brian Earley, the tournament’s referee. “I mean, what is that right there?” When Earley responded, “Water,” Roddick said, “Why are we out here if that’s there? I’m really starting to get pissed off.”
Roddick continued: “How hard is it to not see water? … I mean, did you give it 30 seconds to rest? What are we doing here?”
Earley stood quietly as Roddick continued to protest.
“If you clean it with a towel every 30 seconds it’s going to look dry, Brian. Why are we out here right now?” he said. “You’re killing us. I’m baffled right now. Absolutely baffled.”
Roddick then went over to his bag, zipped it up and walked off court. Ferrer followed.
The confrontation continued in the bowels of the stadium as Earley tried to arrange another court. Officials had been preparing Court 13, a smaller court that has fewer seats and no instant replay technology.
“I don’t care where we play, let’s just play,” Roddick said. “I realize you don’t have to play on consecutive days but the winner of us is going to have to.” Ferrer, who let Roddick do most of the talking, agreed.
After the players, escorted by security staff, began to walk to Court 13, fans were told that the match had been moved—and then everyone went berserk.
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