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Djokovic blames scheduling


 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:16

The defending champion retired early in the fourth set against Andy Roddick, trailing 6-7 (3/7) 6-4 6-2 2-1, after struggling in the intense heat on Rod Laver Arena.

Djokovic’s previous match against Marcos Baghdatis on Sunday night ran into the early hours of Monday morning, and the third seed revealed after Tuesday’s game he had requested to play a night match but had been turned down.

“It doesn’t benefit a lot of people to play that late. But on the other hand, if you end a match at 3am it’s basically logical thinking that you should play the same match, the second match after 7.30pm (in your next round),” Djokovic said.

When asked why his request had been turned down, Djokovic replied: “Sometimes you don’t have enough power obviously to get things right for yourself. It was probably, I don’t know, TV or things like that; some requests, other requests, which is, you know, a little bit disappointing. But what can you do?”

The quarter-final match between Australian Jelena Dokic and Dinara Safina was the first night match on Rod Laver Arena, followed by the clash between Roger Federer and Juan Martin Del Potro.

“It’s on the tournament organisers to decide whether they are going put me or her (Dokic), or whoever plays, on prime time,” Djokovic added.

“I don’t blame them putting an Australian on at 7.30pm. Obviously, it attracts most people and attention.

“You have got to think about people, about the public, about everybody. That’s what it’s all about. You can’t think only about the players.

“But sometimes you have got to hear what the players have to say. Things like this (retirement) don’t happen for no reason.”

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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.