Tokyo Olympics: “If I die, will the ITF be responsible for it?” Daniil Medvedev fumes in hot conditions

The 2nd world tennis champion Daniil Medvedev needed three sets to beat Italian Fabio Fognini, and he was left disappointed with the heat he had to face in Tokyo, even asking the referee-chairman who would take responsibility if he died.

“I’m fine. I can finish the match but I can die. If I die will the ITF (governing body International Tennis Federation) take responsibility?” Medvedev said when the chair umpire asked him if he was fine.

Last week Medvedev was the first to appeal for a delayed start for tennis at the Olympics due to the hot and humid weather conditions and also received support from world number one Novak Djokovic.

The 25-year-old took a medical timeout during his match against Fognini on Wednesday and called the trainer on couple of other occasions.

“Even from the first set I didn’t feel good enough with my breathing. That’s why I called the physio, I felt like my diaphragm was blocked,” he said, adding that he felt it was the most humid day so far in Tokyo.

“And then on the second set, I just had darkness in my eyes, like between every point, I didn’t know what to do to feel better. Like I was bending over and I couldn’t get my breath together so I was ready to just fall down on the court.”