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Agence France-Presse

The ATP men’s tennis tour will introduce an extreme heat policy from 2026 after criticism from players who sweltered through some tournaments this year.
The move brings the ATP into line with the women’s WTA tour, which has a long-standing policy, and sports such as Formula One, which has its own measures to protect drivers.
In October, Danish tennis star Holger Rune called temperatures of more than 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) and humidity soaring past 80 per cent at the Shanghai Masters “brutal”.
“Do you want a player to die on court?” Rune was heard to ask as he wilted in the fierce conditions.
The ATP has now acted, saying on Monday it was “strengthening protections for players competing in extreme conditions”.

The new rules are based on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which measures air temperature, humidity, wind speed and other factors to estimate heat stress.
Under the measures, a player can request a 10-minute cooling break in best-of-three singles matches if the WBGT reaches 30.1 degrees or higher during the first two sets.
Play will be suspended when the WBGT exceeds 32.2 degrees.
“The new heat rule provides a structured, medically supported approach to managing extreme heat, with the objective of safeguarding player health,” the ATP said.
It added it would “also improve conditions for spectators, officials, ball persons and tournament staff”.
The rules do not apply to the four grand slams, which have their own policies.
Previously, decisions over weather conditions, including heat, were down to the on-site ATP supervisor in coordination with medical teams and local organisers.
The planet is on track to log its second hottest year on record in 2025, Europe’s global warming monitor said last week.
Meanwhile, officials said on Tuesday that Serbian great Novak Djokovic would play at the Adelaide International next month as he kicked off his bid for an 11th Australian Open title and an elusive 25th grand slam crown.
The 38-year-old world No 4 has competed at Adelaide twice before, winning both times in 2007 and 2023.

He will be back in the city for the ATP-WTA tournament from January 12 to 17 before the opening grand slam of the year at Melbourne Park beginning on January 18.
Djokovic won his last major in 2023 and has cut down on tour appearances since, but still lifted titles this year in Geneva and Athens.
Other Adelaide entrants include Jack Draper, Joao Fonseca, Tommy Paul and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Defending Australian Open champion Madison Keys spearheads the women’s field alongside fellow top 10 players Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva and Ekaterina Alexandrova.


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Novak Djokovic cools himself during a match at the Shanghai Masters in October. Photo: AP

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Sport

Tennis

Men’s tour changes rules after Shanghai Masters saw star ask: ‘Do you want a player to die on court?’


Men’s tour changes rules after Shanghai Masters saw star ask: ‘Do you want a player to die on court?’.


Climate change

Novak Djokovic

Madison Keys

United States Tennis Association

After China’s brutal heat, men’s tennis matches to be halted at 32.2 Celsius

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Men’s tour changes rules after Shanghai Masters saw star ask: ‘Do you want a player to die on court?’

Men’s tour changes rules after Shanghai Masters saw star ask: ‘Do you want a player to die on court?’