NEW YORK | A player having to retreat to the toilet in the middle of a point, others unable to finish the game or even play it. Mysterious stomach pains are spreading at the US Open, worrying several athletes present in New York.
The American Christopher Eubanks, the sensation of the last Wimbledon, the Austrian Dominic Thiem, who found himself in the second round of a major event for the first time after six failed attempts, the Finn Ruusuvuori and the Pole Hubert Hurkacz are among the players who have achieved this bothered by the virus.
Dominic Thiem Photo Getty Images via AFP
In the case of Eubanks, the 28th seed in the Big Apple, he felt such a strong need to go to the bathroom that he didn’t even bother waiting until the point where he was. The argument was over going there while he met Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi at the end of the fourth round.
Chris Eubanks ran off the field in the middle of the rally only to come back with new clothes. At the start of the game he asked the referee for anti-nausea medication.
Pee break? 💩🤣#USOpen
(🎥: @j2bri) pic.twitter.com/KRTSjiHTR8— Sports Betting Review (@SBRReview) August 30, 2023
According to Chron, the crowd favorite had previously asked the trainer to bring him anti-nausea medication. He was able to finish the second round match – which he lost in the tiebreak of the fourth set – and then play his doubles match (where he was also eliminated).
But not everyone had the chance to take part until the end. Ruusuvuori, ranked 56th, announced his withdrawal before the tournament began.
Thiem, champion in New York three years ago, withdrew on Wednesday at the start of the second round against the American Ben Shelton and complained about no longer being able to walk.
The nature of the problem, which appears to primarily affect men’s wardrobes, is currently unclear. Former American star athlete John McEnroe, who became an ESPN commentator, is on the sidelines after contracting COVID-19, but there is no evidence that the sick players were also infected.
Jabeur and his orange juice
On the women’s side, last year’s finalist, Tunisian Ons Jabeur, had difficulty getting through her first two games and also had physical problems.
But in her case, it was the flu, she said while drinking orange juice at a news conference Thursday.
“My stomach is fine,” emphasized the fifth favorite and explained that she had to take “all the medication” that the doctors had recommended to her.
“I know other players have stomach problems, but luckily not me,” she added.
Medication… to play better
On an eventful Thursday evening He had problems with the New York audience – as is often the case – Russian Daniil Medvedev turned to the coach after losing in the third round to Australian Christopher O’Connell.
But it appears the third-place finisher’s pain was less severe than that of other players.
When asked by the doctor about the nature of his symptoms, Medvedev replied: “Yes, I lost a round. Give me the same thing you gave him [Ă O’Connell] earlier in the game…”