US Open Tennis 2011: Where Bad Weather and Poor Judgment Collide

There may have been only one thing worse than the weather in New York City on Wednesday at the U.S. Open, and that was the judgment of United States Tennis Association (USTA).

In its infinite wisdom, the USTA opted to hurry up match play for the sake of a deadline and, in the process, could have hurt some of its greatest players.

It wasn't pouring like it was on Tuesday, but it was certainly misty and slippery out on the courts. No amount of oversized vacuum cleaners could change that fact.

To ensure the men's final on Sunday would stay on track, players such as Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick and Andy Murray were sent out onto the courts to please the viewers and television networks.

Said Nadal, after keeping people waiting for eight minutes (probably in protest), via ESPN: "It's always about the money."

Nadal didn't say much, but when he did as he walked out to the Arthur Ashe Stadium courts, he bluntly spoke the truth.

Roddick was a bit more talkative, but his sentiments were the same.

Said Roddick:

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"If it's up for discussion whether the court is playable, that means it's not playable. It was misting when we walked out."

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Said Murray:

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"It was raining when we went on -- it's dangerous. The players want to play more than anyone, but not when it's dangerous. Everyone's kind of in the same boat."

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Everyone, that is, except for the USTA.

Have we taken a time machine back to the days before 1972, when there was no union and no rights and when tennis players had no choice but to trudge out onto the courts for the amusement of the people like caged animals?

Nadal and his opponent Gilles Muller played a whole three games before the match was called due to the same conditions it began with. Same goes for Murray and Donald Young. Roddick vs. David Ferrer lasted a whole four games.

The USTA tried to cut corners on Wednesday in New York City, and it was deservedly met with harsh criticism from some of the top players in the world, as well as plenty of tennis fans.

While trying to appease the fans (and fill its pockets), the USTA actually lost the trust of its fans and its players.

When Nadal spoke again after play on Wednesday, he was once again on point. In fact, if his statements translated to the courts, he'd be serving aces.

Said Nadal:

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"The health of the players is important, and we don't feel protected. We are here working hard, and we want to feel good when we are playing the tournament.

"If I have to play [when it's] raining, I cannot accept that. We have to fight to change that, to have the power to change it.

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The USTA should not have to find itself in a battle with its players because it doesn't protect them.

On Wednesday, players were at the mercy of poor conditions and the USTA's primary concern could be seen clearly through the mist.