Tennis Courts as Living Laboratories for Extreme Heat Management

With rising global temperatures, the management of heat stress on tennis courts is being put to the test. In August at the Cincinnati Open, world No. 5 Novak Djokovic fainted during a match due to the heat, leading to criticism over scheduling. Earlier, in July, Ekaterina Alexandrova was taken off the court on a stretcher at the Memphis Classic because of heat-related illness, and in May, Jakub Menšík collapsed at the French Open. Since 1970, the likelihood of hot days during tournaments has escalated in all four Grand Slam cities, with the U.S. Open's risk increasing from 49% to 67%. In October 2025, the ATP introduced extreme heat regulations permitting cooling breaks when temperatures exceed 86°F. In 2023, the U.S. Open opted to close its roof during extreme heat. Experts suggest scheduling matches outside of peak heat hours and implementing active cooling breaks.