Current:Home > MyZzzzzzz: US Open tennis players take naps before matches, especially late ones-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Zzzzzzz: US Open tennis players take naps before matches, especially late ones
View Date:2024-12-23 19:14:24
NEW YORK (AP) — Plenty of tennis players at the U.S. Open agree: Don’t sleep on the benefits of a good nap, especially ahead of a night match.
Whether at a hotel or on one of the beds in the “Player Quiet Room” down the hall from the locker rooms or anywhere else they can find a spot to stretch out, these Grand Slam athletes appreciate the net gains offered by extra Zs during the tournament being played this week and next.
“In the evening, I get tired, like everybody else, so that’s why I have to take a nap,” said Tatjana Maria, a 37-year-old mother of two from Germany who lost to defending champion Coco Gauff under the lights in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday night. “I have to rest pretty much the whole afternoon to be ready for the evening.”
She’s not alone in a sport where the action can begin anywhere from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. — and, on occasion, even later.
The way a lot of competitors look at it, no matter their country, ranking or age, is that if you DON’T snooze, you lose.
“If I feel tired, I want to sleep, so I go to sleep. Maybe if I have the first match at 11 a.m., I don’t have enough time. But any other match, I probably will take a nap for 10 or 15 minutes,” said Zhang Zhizhen, a 27-year-old who won a silver medal for China in mixed doubles at the Paris Olympics. “Sometimes in the afternoon, I will sleep for one or two hours.”
Not everyone in tennis is a napper, of course, but those who aren’t tend to be jealous of their colleagues who are.
“I see other players taking naps, and I’m like, ‘I wish I could.’ I’d love to kind of unwind like that,” said 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, a 25-year-old American. “But I’m too fired up before a match. There’s adrenaline and nerves.”
Tommy Paul, a 27-year-old American who reached the semifinals at Melbourne Park last year, said his team pushes him to give it a try. Alas, Paul said, “I can’t sleep until it’s time for bed.” Clara Tauson, 21, a Dane currently ranked 67th, is afraid to nap on a match day, she explained, “Because then I don’t know if my brain is ever going to wake up again.”
Donna Vekic, a 26-year-old from Croatia who made Wimbledon’s semifinals in July and earned a silver medal at the Summer Games this month, only nods off if she feels “absolutely dead,” she said, because, “If I nap, I just wake up in a bad mood.”
Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, suggested one way to counter that sort of reaction: She downs a shot of espresso shortly before lying down.
“The coffee doesn’t kick in fully until 30 to 90 minutes after, so ... I wake up super refreshed after” what typically will be 25 minutes of slumber, the 24-year-old from Canada said. “The power nap is the most effective one.”
Casper Ruud — a three-time runner-up at majors, including at the U.S. Open two years ago — puts his head back on a pillow for an hour or two if he’s scheduled to be on court in the latter portion of the day.
His optimum time for bonus shut-eye is “typically after breakfast,” he said. The 25-year-old from Norway gets back up at around noon and goes to the tournament grounds. The naps are always at his hotel.
“When I come to the site,” Ruud said with a chuckle, “there’s no sleeping.”
Others, though, appreciate the benefits of nodding off whenever and wherever they can.
Whether that’s on a first-come, first-served basis in the designated space in Ashe — set up in 2022, it has three lounge chairs in a main room outfitted with a water feature offering the sort of soothing sounds often found in a spa; four twin beds in one side room where the lights are kept suitably low; and four chaise lounges in another — or a place not necessarily designed for dozing off.
“I’ve done some weird spots. I’ve been in locker rooms before where there’s not really a couch and you kind of have to make a couch,” said Denis Shapovalov, a 25-year-old Canadian who reached Wimbledon’s semifinals in 2021. “I’ve done it at (tournament) restaurants. I’ve done it on the ground at a gym. You (nap) wherever you find space.”
Leylah Fernandez, a finalist at the 2021 U.S. Open, also isn’t picky about her 40 winks.
“The lucky thing about me is that I can sleep pretty much anywhere,” the 21-year-old Fernandez said. “That’s like my little hidden talent.”
What about during a match? Leave it to Nick Kyrgios to show it can be done.
The 2022 Wimbledon runner-up, who missed nearly all of the last two seasons because of injuries and is appearing on ESPN during its U.S. Open coverage, leaned way back in his sideline chair on changeovers while playing Andy Murray in New York in 2015, closing his eyes and clutching a towel as if it were a blanket.
“Just taking a nap, I guess,” Kyrgios said that day. “It’s good for you.”
___
Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich
___
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
veryGood! (94582)
Related
- Kelly Rowland and Nelly Reunite for Iconic Performance of Dilemma 2 Decades Later
- From hating swimming to winning 10 medals, Allison Schmitt uses life story to give advice
- Watch this soldier's shocked grandparents scream with joy over his unexpected visit
- Paris’ Olympics opening was wacky and wonderful — and upset bishops. Here’s why
- Sydney Sweeney Slams Women Empowerment in the Industry as Being Fake
- Comedian Carrot Top reflects on his 30-year friendship with Toby Keith
- US men's basketball looks to find 'another level' for Paris Olympics opener
- Who plays Deadpool, Wolverine and Ladypool in 'Deadpool and Wolverine'? See full cast
- Traveling to Las Vegas? Here Are the Best Black Friday Hotel Deals
- Drag queens shine at Olympics opening, but ‘Last Supper’ tableau draws criticism
Ranking
- Mechanic dies after being 'trapped' under Amazon delivery van at Florida-based center
- Danielle Collins is retiring from tennis after this year, but she's soaking up Olympics
- WNBA players ready to help Kamala Harris' presidential bid
- Horoscopes Today, July 27, 2024
- Larry Hobbs, who guided AP’s coverage of Florida news for decades, has died at 83
- Grimes' Mom Accuses Elon Musk of Withholding Couple's 3 Kids From Visiting Dying Relative
- Drone-spying scandal: FIFA strips Canada of 6 points in Olympic women’s soccer, bans coaches 1 year
- Paris Olympics opening ceremony: Everything you didn't see on NBC's broadcast
Recommendation
-
Tua Tagovailoa tackle: Dolphins QB laughs off taking knee to head vs. Rams on 'MNF'
-
American Morelle McCane endured death of her brother during long road to Olympics
-
3 dead, 2 critically injured after 25-foot pontoon boat capsizes on Lake Powell in northern Arizona
-
Beyoncé introduces Team USA during NBC coverage of Paris Olympics opening ceremony: Watch
-
The White Stripes drop lawsuit against Donald Trump over 'Seven Nation Army' use
-
Beyoncé introduces Team USA during NBC coverage of Paris Olympics opening ceremony: Watch
-
Tom Cruise, John Legend among celebrities on hand to watch Simone Biles
-
Summer Olympic Games means special food, drinks and discounts. Here's some