Paris Olympians Face Tough Transition to U.S. Open

Olympians who played in Paris face a grueling challenge transitioning to the U.S. Open's hardcourts. Players like Zheng Qinwen and Jessica Pegula describe the difficulty of quick surface changes and limited practice time. Some athletes, opting out of the Games, find better success in U.S. tournaments.

Paris Olympians arriving in New York for the U.S. Open may need extra effort to bring their A-game, following a quick transition from Roland Garros' clay courts to the hardcourts of Flushing Meadows.

This year's U.S. Open could be the ultimate endurance test, as players who competed at the Games, including Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, had only a slim few weeks to prepare. 'I don't think I have too much problem transitioning (from) clay to hard. I just think maybe the time is not enough,' said Zheng.

American world number six Jessica Pegula, who collected a title in Toronto, described the transition as 'tough' but still found success.

China's Zheng mentioned missing practice due to illness in Cincinnati, impacting her performance. American Frances Tiafoe, who skipped the Olympics, found better success in the North American hardcourt swing, reaching a semi-final in Washington and a final in Cincinnati.

'At the end of the day it's all about how hard are you ready to fight for it,' commented world number two Aryna Sabalenka, choosing not to participate in the Olympics due to health and scheduling concerns. The U.S. Open begins on Monday.

(With inputs from agencies.)