Tennis players competing at the Shanghai Masters are calling for urgent changes to protect their health after suffering through exhausting heat and humidity during recent matches. The intense weather conditions, with temperatures reaching above 30 degrees Celsius and humidity soaring, have pushed athletes to their physical limits, sparking concerns about player safety.
Several top players, including Holger Rune, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic, visibly struggled during their matches, showing signs of fatigue, cramping, and dizziness. Rune’s emotional outburst asking if organizers wanted a player to “die on court” captured the frustration felt by many. Djokovic also required medical attention during one of his matches, while Sinner was forced to retire due to severe cramping.
As the tournament continues, many players are uniting in their demand for an official heat policy from the ATP. They argue that match schedules need to consider extreme temperatures, proposing measures such as longer rest breaks, cooling periods, or delayed match starts. Without these adjustments, they warn, player health will remain at serious risk.
The ATP has reportedly begun discussions about potential rule updates to address extreme heat conditions in future tournaments. Players emphasize that competition should never come at the cost of safety and that tennis must evolve to meet the growing challenges posed by climate change and rising global temperatures