Novak Djokovic’s vomiting, Emma Raducanu’s dizziness, the countless requests for medical assistance. The tennis stars have an unexpected enemy on the Asian tour, sweltering heat that will continue in the coming days.
Danish Holger Rune, currently number 11 in the ranking, classified as “brutal” the weather conditions that tennis players are facing in Shanghai, China, with temperatures exceeding 30ºC and humidity of 80%.
Serbian Djokovic, winner of 24 Grand Slams, who had to fight on Tuesday (7) against the heat and a bad ankle to reach the quarterfinals, said that his match against Spaniard Jaume Munar was “very physically challenging”.
The 38-year-old player, number five in the world, vomited after an unforced error, collapsed to the ground and lay flat while a doctor rushed to attend to him. Then, he had the strength to win in three sets.
In the stands, spectators combat the intense heat with fans and cold compresses. Shanghai’s central court has a roof, but it is only closed in case of rain, something that will not happen in this edition.
Rune made an appeal on Tuesday to the ATP (Association of Professional Tennis Players), organizer of the men’s circuit, to introduce a rule against heat in tournaments.
In a statement, the entity reiterated that the safety of tennis players is a priority and that it is considering implementing measures.
Currently, decisions affecting the game related to weather, including heat, “are the responsibility of the on-site ATP supervisor, in coordination with medical teams and local authorities,” he explained.
The feeling of suffocation was a little less this Wednesday (8). The maximum temperature reached 29°C, but in the next few days it will rise again to 33°C.
Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech noted that not only players suffer in these conditions. “It was equally difficult for the ball boys, for the referee, for the fans, everyone was constantly like that”, he said, making a gesture of fanning his face.
Conditions are equally tough in Wuhan, central China, where women are competing in the city’s WTA 1000.
Scientists constantly warn that climate change caused by human activity results in extreme meteorological phenomena that are repeated with greater intensity throughout the world.
Unlike the ATP, the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) has a protocol against heat. Matches on outdoor courts were suspended on Monday (6) when the temperature exceeded 30ºC.
On Tuesday, Emma Raducanu and Jelena Ostapenko withdrew from their matches. The Brit had her blood pressure measured and other vital signs checked before withdrawing dizzily from her first round duel.
World number two Iga Swiatek asked organizers to take players’ safety into account when scheduling matches on outdoor courts, where there is no roof.
“On Center Court I think it’s a little cooler with the air conditioning and everything, but I hope the other matches are scheduled at a time where the girls can compete rather than just die on the court,” he said.
The WTA protocol, which was applied again this Tuesday for part of the day, allows players a ten-minute rest between the second and third sets. It also releases the roof closure even if it is not raining.
