‘You want a player to die?’ Heat is on tennis after players wilt in extreme conditions

Every year players are pushed to their limits in a sport that chases the sun. But the number of retirements, withdrawals and injuries this season has been shocking

Jannik Sinner had tried everything but after baking for two and a half hours inside the sauna of Shanghai’s stadium court, he was finished. Even around midnight, the humidity was still so oppressive he spent the final 20 minutes of his third-round match against Tallon Griekspoor cramping, panting and in considerable pain. Eventually, he could not even walk properly. Midway through the final set, the 24‑year‑old hobbled slowly to his chair using his racket as a crutch and terminated the match.

Those scenes were representative of the Shanghai Masters so far as, throughout the past week, so many players have wilted in brutal conditions. Terence Atmane and Hamad Medjedovic both retired after struggling with the heat. Francisco Comesaña appeared close to collapsing and he had to be helped mid-match by his opponent Lorenzo Musetti. Despite the benefit of competing at night, Novak Djokovic repeatedly vomited in two consecutive matches and there were times in his fourth round win over Jaume Munar where he too looked as if he had reached his limit.

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