NEW YORK: Officials are confident the US Open will conclude on Sunday despite unrelenting rain putting a dampener on the tournament, and complaints from leading players that conditions might not be safe.
While Rafael Nadal hinted that organisers were putting profit before players' safety, Sam Stosur arrived at 9am on Wednesday for her quarter-final against Vera Zvonareva but left Flushing Meadows 11 hours later without a point being played.
Zvonareva spent her 27th birthday waiting for the rain to stop. Their match has been rescheduled to Thursday (after 3am Friday Sydney time).
Although almost all play was washed out on days nine and 10, tournament organisers remain hopeful that it will finish on Sunday. Getting the tournament back on schedule will come at a physical and mental cost to players.
With the final eight of the men's singles tournament yet to be decided, one finalist from the draw's bottom half will be forced to play four consecutive matches without a day off before a semi-final.
"We, the players, are not feeling protected by the tournament," Nadal said, a veiled reference that grand slam organisers - who put up $23.7 million of prizemoney - were focused on the business rather than interests of players.
"They know it is still raining, and they call us on court. They know after 10 minutes we'll have to leave the court another time, and they still put us on the court for the fans. I understand the fans are there but the health and the players are important for this part of the show as well, and we don't feel protected.''
Nadal trailed Luxembourg's Gilles Muller 0-3 in the opening set before play was suspended.
Nadal, who arrived 10 minutes late to his match, and was obviously not pleased in his pre-match interview with ESPN - said he hoped his peers would work together to ensure their voices were heard.
"We want to feel good when we are playing tournaments. We have to fight to have enough power to say we don't want to go on court when it's raining, not Rafael Nadal doesn't want to go on court when it's raining. Because if I have to go on court, I go on court - but it's not fair.''
Andy Murray, who trails American wildcard Donald Young 1-2 also believed conditions were too dangerous for play.
''Players want to play more than anyone, but not when it's dangerous,'' the fourth-seeded Scot said. ''The back of the court was soaking, and the balls were wet too. Everyone mentioned it to the officials but they said it was fine. It didn't make sense to go out on court for seven or eight minutes and then come back inside.''
Andy Roddick, who leads Spaniard David Ferrer 3-1, said: ''If it's up for discussion if the court's playable or not, then it's not playable. Walking out there - it was still misting.''
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