Heat Wave in China Forces Tennis Players to Retire from Matches
The scorching heat in China has become a major concern for tennis players at the Wuhan and Shanghai tournaments. The extreme temperatures and humidity levels have led to a series of retirements, with players struggling to cope with the challenging conditions.
One notable case is 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, who had his heart rate monitored during his match at the Shanghai Masters. The heat also affected Alex de Minaur, who described the conditions as 'rare' and disruptive. Another ATP player struggled to breathe in the oppressive heat, and major disruptions have occurred at the WTA tournament in Wuhan as well.
Former Roland Garros finalist Karolina Muchova, who has dealt with various injuries, faced a different challenge in Wuhan. Despite a poor performance at the China Open last week, she managed to win in Wuhan, but her first-round match was far from easy. Muchova fought back from a set down against Marta Kostyuk, despite the hot and humid conditions.
However, in her subsequent match against Magdalena Frech, Muchova's performance took a turn. She took a medical timeout in the second set and was checked by a doctor due to heat-related issues. Despite continuing, she lost the next two games and decided to retire, handing the win to Frech.
The heat-related retirements are not isolated incidents. This week, a total of 11 players across the Shanghai and Wuhan tournaments have retired due to heat-related issues. Six of these retirements were directly linked to heat, including Jannik Sinner's cramping at the Shanghai Masters. Emma Raducanu also retired due to poor visibility when being attended by a doctor.
The heat in China is a unique challenge, with temperatures reaching the mid-30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day and high humidity making the conditions even more difficult. The timing of the season also plays a role, with players like Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz expressing concerns about the tennis calendar.
The heat wave has sparked discussions about the need for immediate changes in tennis to ensure player safety and well-being.
