{"id":2068040,"date":"2026-07-29T18:00:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T15:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2068040"},"modified":"2026-07-29T18:00:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T15:00:11","slug":"is-tennis-putting-players-in-danger-by-forcing-play-to-continue-in-extreme-heat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2068040","title":{"rendered":"Is tennis putting players in danger by forcing play to continue in extreme heat?"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Is tennis putting players in danger by forcing play to continue in extreme heat?<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/kevin-palmer\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Kevin Palmer                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"29 Jul 2026 7:00 PM\" data-ps-date=\"29 Jul 2026 7:00 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1785348011\"><br \/>\n                            29 Jul 2026 7:00 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img 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flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Is tennis putting players in danger by forcing play to continue in extreme heat?\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Jannik-Sinner-tries-to-cool-down-with-a-handfan-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Jannik Sinner tries to cool down with a handfan\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Jannik Sinner tries to cool down with a handfan                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\"><!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p>Ekaterina Alexandrova\u2019s alarming collapse at the WTA Tour Memphis Classic re-ignited the debate about the heat rules in tennis, with fears that players are being put at risk by being asked to play in searing conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Top seed Alexandrova was trailing 7-6(2), 4-6, 5-4 against 16-year-old compatriot Kristina Liutova in a match where temperatures reached 34C and after a long break at the end of the third set, she resumed the match.<\/p>\n<p>Alexandrova was clearly struggling to serve at the heat overcame her, but she tried to battle on and then collapsed on court before being forced to forfeit the match and hand Liutova a victory.<\/p>\n<p>Liutova was emotional on court as she witnessed the shocking scenes that ended with Alexandrova leaving the court in a wheelchair.<\/p>\n<p>Pressure may now be applied on tennis chiefs to reconsider their heat rules, after a series of indicents in recent years raised concerns over player safety.<\/p>\n<h2>More Tennis News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-features\/jannik-sinners-wimbledon-fitness-concern-science-behind-competing-extreme-heat\">Jannik Sinner\u2019s Wimbledon fitness concern: The science behind competing in extreme heat<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/jannik-sinners-coach-breaks-silence-what-happened-roland-garros\">Jannik Sinner\u2019s coach says what critics misunderstand about his fatigue issues<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Tennis legend Novak Djokovic spoke out against the heat rules in place at tennis during an extremely hot opening week at the French Open, as the Serbian suggested more common sense needs to be applied.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOkay so it is true that they have a rule,\u201d said Djokovic. \u201cWhich is what? Another index forumula combination type of thing?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know, it\u2019s always a discussion, I guess. But then if you close one roof, then all of the others are playing. It\u2019s not fair also.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He also went on to suggest dealing with heat is part of the challenge of the game, as he questioned decisions to close the roof on the main show court at Roland Garros.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy would you close centre court and then everyone else has to be playing on the heat?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wouldn\u2019t agree with that even though, of course. For me, it would be great if I play on Centre to have that roof closed on such a hot day in Australia we have experienced \u2013 I have personally experienced a few times \u2013 we have seen in last years that there were some delays of play, like for an hour, two hours, three hours until that upper level bar that crossed the kind of index regulation comes back down. I think that\u2019s fair.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHonestly, with Grand Slams it shouldn\u2019t be an issue, generally, because we have so many courts. We have lights. You know, there\u2019s no issue. You have big courts. You can play the matches. You can reschedule them some other courts and still have the crowd in the stadium.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn the other tournaments where you don\u2019t have these kind of facilities and conditions, then that\u2019s a different discussion, obviously.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have some tournaments, I think, on ATP Tour where, for example, Umag in Croatia where matches are starting later in the afternoon, you know, 5pm or something, and they play until deep at night.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah, is that ideal to go over midnight? Yeah, it\u2019s not. But if you have, you know, certain days that you have extreme heat and conditions, then maybe that\u2019s something to consider.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It remains to be seen whether the Alexandrova will force tennis chiefs to reconsider their heat rules, but it is unlikely any changes will come into force over the next few weeks when temperatures will be soaring in North America.<\/p>\n<p><strong>New ATP Tour heat rules for 2026:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>10-Minute Cooling Break<\/p>\n<p>Cooling measures will be implemented when the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) reaches 30.1\u00b0C or higher during the first two sets of best-of-three singles matches. When activated, a 10-minute cooling break after the second set may be requested by either player and will apply to both players in singles.<\/p>\n<p>During the break, players may utilise cooling measures, hydrate, change clothing, shower and receive coaching, under the supervision of ATP medical staff.<\/p>\n<p>Suspension of Play<\/p>\n<p>Play will be suspended when the WBGT exceeds 32.2\u00b0C.<\/p>\n<p>Player Health and Safety<\/p>\n<p>The new heat rule provides a structured, medically supported approach to managing extreme heat, with the objective of safeguarding player health, while also improving conditions for spectators, officials, ball persons, and tournament staff.<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/australian-open\/jannik-sinner-heat-rules-australian-open\">Jannik Sinner claims over heat rules disputed by Jamie Murray: \u2018I don\u2019t believe it\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End --><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Is tennis putting players in danger by forcing play to continue in extreme heat? Kevin Palmer 29 Jul 2026 7:00 PM Jannik Sinner tries to cool down with a handfan Ekaterina Alexandrova\u2019s alarming collapse at the WTA Tour Memphis Classic re-ignited the debate about the heat rules in tennis, with fears that players are being [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-2068040","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2068040","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2068040"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2068040\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2068040"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2068040"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2068040"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}