BarcelonaPaula Badosa has left the Olympics in a wheelchair. And not because he has broken any bones in his legs or foot, but because the heat of Tokyo has left him stunned after playing only one set in the quarterfinals against Markéta Vondrousová (6-3). The Girona tennis player was earning the right to dream of being a Catalan medalist, but she has not been able to compete under the sun of justice at the Ariake Park in the Japanese capital, home of the singles, doubles, women’s and men’s tournaments of this event. Olympic Games. His body has not been able to fully withstand a thermal sensation of 40 degrees caused by a temperature above 30 and a humidity level of 70%.
“Within 10 seconds of the warm-up we were already sweating bravely,” said Javier Martí, a Badosa coach who has seen his physique begin to show extreme conditions from the seventh game onwards. With 3-3 on the scoreboard in the only leg that has been played, Begur has lost its initial agility and has not improved even after receiving the assistance of its recoverer. Vondrousová has had no opposition to take the set by the fast track, while Badosa has decided to fold and focus on avoiding a scare with the heat stroke. She left the track covered with a soaked towel and the doctors at the Olympic venue refreshed her with ice and a cold shower. “Even after all that it hurt his head,” Martí explained.
“It’s a shame to finish a Games like this, but my body has not been able to withstand such demanding conditions,” Badosa explained once he recovered. After competing at a high level in Grand Slams such as Roland Garros and Wimbledon, the Catalan came to the Games with chances of success in the singles and doubles mixed (with Pablo Carreño) and women (with Sara Sorribes). The heat of this Wednesday has taken him away from the first two competitions. The other was left out on Tuesday in the round of 16. Despite the disappointment, she wanted to emphasize her firm will to be Olympic again. He has played his first Games at the age of 23 and at 26 he will be able to take part in the second.
The hottest games in history?
Badosa’s problems withstanding the heat have not been exclusive. In fact, this Wednesday, in the men’s team, the Russian Daniil Medvedev sweated the bacon to defeat the Italian Fognini in three sets. So much so that the tennis player, who has repeatedly needed the assistance of the physios, confronted the chair judge when he was on the edge: “I can finish the game, but I can also die. If I die, will you be the one? responsible? ” The match is over and Medvedev has achieved his goal: to play in the semifinals. However, his complaints and the removal of Badosa open up a debate about the physical integrity of athletes due to the heat and humidity. In fact, without an audience in the bleachers to soak up the temperature, these Games could be the hottest in history. The ones in Tokyo in 1964 were held in October, not like the ones now.
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