The melting plastic bottle thing? It actually happened on court as temperatures reached 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 F). Victoria Azarenka described it as "like dancing in a frying pan." One male player fainted during his match. Even ballboy and ballgirls suffered in spite of their shift being reduced from one hour to forty-five minutes.
An ankle injury, not the heat, caused United States player, John Isner to withdraw from his contest with Martin Klizan of Slovakia. Last year Isner had to bow out of Australia due to a knee injury.
Other United States players fared no better.
- Klahn was taken out of the heat by Gregor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 6-3 6-2 6-1
- Williams felt Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina breeze past 6-2 6-1 6-1
- Odesnic was chilled by Vincent Millot of France 6-1 6-1 6-3
- Harrison, however, was not so easily intimidated in his four set loss to Gael Monfils of France 7-6(5) 5-7 6-2 6-4
- And Smyczek danced courageously in the frying pan in his four-set loss to Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain 6-3 6-7(5) 6-2 7-6(2)
The Psalmist in Psalm 121 speaks of the LORD as our shade upon our right hand preventing the sun from striking us by day or the moon by night. That promise came to mind as I read of the Australian heat wave and saw familiar photos of ballboys holding umbrellas over the players during the breaks. While God knows how to bring the refreshing shade of his covenant promises in quiet times off the court; he often provides it on court through the willingness of others who know how to hold those promises over the thoughts of a friend, a child, a parent in the heat of life.
Is there someone you know today who is staggering beneath the relentless sun of some trial in their life? Might you be the one who could hold over them the umbrella of hope God gives to those who trust Jesus Christ?
No comments:
Post a Comment