Rune and Djokovic protest against the heat: changes to the rules demanded in tennis.

Protest at the Shanghai tournament

According to The Sun: Tennis star Holger Rune expressed his outrage, asking:

“Do you want a player to die on the court?”

He called for radical changes to the rules after struggling to cope with the heat at the Shanghai tournament. EPA

During the match against Giovanni Mpets'i Perrikados, the temperature reached 34°C, and the humidity was 80%. Rune called for help from the doctor and physiotherapist.

Novak Djokovic vomits in front of fans on the court TikTok / @georgy_tennis

Rune also criticized the lack of rules protecting players from the heat in ATP matches. He noted that during major tournaments, a 10-minute break is allowed before the final set in hot conditions, but such an option was not provided in Shanghai.

The tennis player remarked:

“That’s a very good question. Every player would agree (to a change in the rules).

“We can withstand a certain amount of heat because we are strong and mentally resilient, but there’s always a limit.”

Meanwhile, tennis player Terrance Atman also shared his experiences, stating:

“After the first point of the match, both my hands were shaking. After the second game, I felt my body shaking, and I couldn’t breathe after every point.”

X @SkySportsTennis

A similar situation occurred at the Wuhan Open: Emma Raducanu was also forced to withdraw due to dizziness, while Jannik Sinner left the match due to leg pain.

These cases highlight the importance of tournament rules regarding the protection of players from extreme weather conditions. Experts believe that adherence to such measures could significantly reduce health risks for athletes and improve overall safety on the courts during tournaments.

It is important for the ATP to take these situations into account and take necessary measures, as the comfort and health of players must be a priority.