Murray and Nadal in revolt over ‘dangerous’ US Open

RAFAEL NADAL and Andy Murray have reacted furiously after being sent out to play at the US Open yesterday in what they believed were dangerously wet conditions.

The New York tournament has been hampered with major rain delays. With all of Tuesday's play cancelled, organisers were eager to make up for lost time. After a two-hour delay at the beginning of Wednesday, players were told to head out onto court – only to be called back 16 minutes later.

The world's top pros were left fuming. "Grand Slams are about a lot of money," said Nadal, the tournament's defending champion. "We're part of the show. They're just working for that, not for us."

The Spaniard had been eight minutes late emerging onto the main Arthur Ashe Court to face Luxembourg’s Gilles Müller and soon found himself 3-0 down when the match was abandoned. "It's the same old story, all you think about is money," Nadal was heard saying.

His anger continued after the match: "I understand the fans want to see tennis but the health of the players is the most important and we do not feel protected... We have to fight to change things, to have enough power that we don't have to go on court when it's raining."

It was a similar story with Andy Murray over on the Grandstand Court. The back of the court was still wet when the British number one went on to face 22-year-old Donald Young, who led 2-1 before the players were recalled.

"It's dangerous, the lines get really slippy," Murray said. "Players want to play more than anyone, but not when it's dangerous."

Such was the anger among players that three of the tour's most senior pros – Nadal, Murray and America's Andy Roddick – descended on tournament referee Brian Earley to voice their concerns.

"It was important for us to make it known that we didn't want to be put in that position again," Roddick explained. "We said if conditions are similar to that again, it might be uncomfortable. To Brian Earley's credit, he listened to what we had to say. He was very nice in the conversation."

In a statement on Wednesday the United States Tennis Association also sought to explain its decision: "As of 12 noon today, the best information available to us indicated the chance of a two-hour window without rain. Unfortunately, not all light rain and mist shows up on radar. We have experienced referees, and they decide if courts are fit for play. Conditions may be not ideal, but still can be safe." ·