– A player will die, and then you will see.

Russian Daniil Medvedev went straight to the camera with his message midway through the third set of his quarter-final against compatriot Andrei Rublev. Frustration over the conditions in which the final Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year was played really boiled over to Medvedev.

At that time, the temperature outside the Arthur Ashe arena in New York was more than 30 degrees, combined with humidity that made conditions almost suffocating for the players. However, it was clear that it was Rublev’s opponent who was having the most difficulty dealing with the heat. Medvedev won in straight sets.

You can say a lot about the All-Russian quarterfinals these days. But the point here is that Medvedev laid bare the fears that many believe the sport’s leaders are trying to hide.

Very physically demanding

These conditions are so physically demanding that players can lose their lives during training, where matches cannot last for five hours or more.

But the focus on conditions in New York received greater attention the next day. The semifinal between American shooting star Coco Gauff and Czech Karolina Muchova had reached the second game of the second set when the match was suddenly interrupted by shouts of protest from the stands.

The activist group Extinction Rebellion stated its rejection of the continued extraction of fossil energy sources.

“Stop fossil fuels now,” it says in the original language. Three of the four activists were removed. The latter pressed his bare feet against the concrete and stood up. More than 45 minutes the players had to wait.

Everyone hates this, when you are doing something you have been preparing for a long time, be it skiing, playing football or tennis. You will not be disturbed. Something. But behind that, Coco Gauff expressed great understanding towards the protesters.

After similar demonstrations at the French Open in Paris and Wimbledon in London this summer, he was ready, he said.

But also go further.

His understanding becomes greater

“If they feel the need to hear that, then I can’t be disappointed,” said the 19-year-old rising star, after qualifying for his first US Open final.

Nobody wants it right away. The 24,000 spectators cheered as the protesters were led away. But understanding of their desperation is increasing, also in the world of sport.

Because sport cannot isolate itself from the outside world. Not if you’re cross-country skiing on what’s left of the snow, or if you’re playing tennis in the middle of a heat wave that should never happen there.

The possibility that the biggest tennis tournaments will become increasingly difficult to organize in the coming years is growing. Only on the main line you can drive through the roofs. The trick is through play on up to 20 courses, all of which are exposed to whatever weather the gods deem worthy of treatment.

It has been 10 years since the Australian Open implemented temperature restrictions. Now they’re talking about the same thing in New York.

And the protesters in the stands are no longer just harassing fans in the stands at Arthur Ashe Arena or in front of television screens around the world. They are someone to be reckoned with. And immediately had to hug. Because no one escapes the new climate reality. And more and more people are starting to realize this.

Therefore, Coco Gauff realized what everyone should immediately realize. The sports world must also be aware of the challenges that are greater than today.

Because the protests will continue, whether we like it or not. And it will be annoying and distracting, to the point that even the biggest stars will use their positions to express their concerns.

Protests must be disruptive

Unfortunately, there is a lack of willingness on the part of the world’s biggest sports stars to take advantage of the unique opportunity they have to raise awareness.

Instead, today we only get well-calibrated messages from calculating players.

FIFA’s campaign for a seemingly good cause involves no one.

And the politically correct Handshake for peace has long since ended – and also players kneeling before matches to support the fight against racism.

Because it has become commonplace. And part of the liturgy.

Because a protest has to be disruptive in order to be a protest. Therefore, they have to go beyond the limits, also during the biggest sporting events, in the oil country of Norway and other countries in the world that cannot control climate developments.

Posters and banners will never be enough, as long as TV producers never show them to anyone other than those inside the stadium,

Therefore, more football matches, more ski races on artificial snow and more tennis matches will be stopped.

And many more will love Coco Gauff and give their immediate support.

“No tennis on a dead planet” was the second slogan delivered from the stands in New York this week.

That will never happen

Hopefully the message reaches ears before Daniil Medvedev is correct in his pessimistic predictions.

Now he is ready for the final against Serbian giant Novak Djokovic.

The day after Coco Gauff played her first Grand Slam final on home soil in New York and won.

About 45 minutes late. Perhaps the most important minutes during this year’s US Open.

And they come again. Because what could actually stop it?

Of course you stop fossil fuel extraction.

But that didn’t happen.

So, what you do is do like Coco Gauff.

Get ready for more.

And hopefully no one dies.