Federer, Barty say conditions slow on Ashe stadium court at US Open

Roger Federer and Ashleigh Barty are finding the stadium courts a little slow at the US Open, despite suggestions that they would be speeded up from 2018.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion says the court on Arthur Ashe stadium has recently changed.

"Now I do believe it's definitely slower than it has in previous years. I'm not sure if it's the balls or the speed of the court," said Federer. "So I feel like it's medium, at best. I also was told we're going to make it faster to last year. I don't feel it that way yet.

"Sort of a bit flat. It's not crazy bouncy. It doesn't skid like mad. But I do believe that maybe through the course of the tournament it's also going to speed up just a little bit more for the second week."

Getty Images

Barty, who is seeded second in New York, agreed.

“I think they are slow, definitely. Roger is probably the best one with the best feel in the world,” Barty said. “He'll tell you how it is, and he's not wrong often. No, it is pretty slow. I think at night that's magnified even more. Especially when it's raining, it's heavy. All of those things are magnified a little bit more. With the roof closed, it makes it a little bit more difficult.

"But it's just the conditions. There's nothing you can do about it. You just have to play in it. I've played in night sessions before, played on slow courts before. It does take some adapting, but not too long.”

Both have reached the third round.

Wake up every morning with Tennis Channel Live at the US Open, starting at 8 a.m. ET. For three hours leading up to the start of play, Tennis Channel's team will break down upcoming matches, review tournament storylines and focus on everything Flushing Meadows.

Tennis Channel's encore, all-night match coverage will begin every evening at 11 p.m. ET, with the exception of earlier starts on Saturday and Sunday of championship weekend.