Starting in the 2026 season, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) will enforce a new rule regarding extreme heat, allowing players on the men’s tour to take a 10-minute cooling break during singles matches that are best-of-three sets.
This regulation mirrors the one established by the Women’s Tennis Association, which oversees women’s professional tennis, over 30 years ago, to safeguard players from high temperatures.
During the Shanghai Masters in October, temperatures soared to 34°C with 80% humidity during the day.
After world number 15, Holger Rune, required medical assistance in his third-round match, he questioned an official: “Do you want a player to die on court?”
In a statement, the ATP emphasized that this policy aims to “enhance protections for players competing in extreme conditions.”
The new rule is based on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which gauges heat stress in direct sunlight by considering factors such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle, and cloud cover.
If the WBGT reaches 30.1°C or higher during the first two sets of a best-of-three match, either player can request a 10-minute cooling break.
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With ATP medical staff present, players can hydrate, change clothes, shower, and receive coaching during this time.
Play will be halted if the WBGT exceeds 32.2°C.
“The new heat rule offers a structured, medically supported method for managing extreme heat, aimed at protecting player health while also enhancing conditions for spectators, officials, ball persons, and tournament staff,” the statement noted.
Players have voiced concerns about the harsh heat conditions at both men’s and women’s tournaments, including Grand Slams, in recent years.
The Shanghai Masters and Wuhan Open, both held in October, faced significant backlash for their oppressive conditions.
Britain’s Emma Raducanu had to withdraw from her first-round match due to dizziness, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic called the heat “brutal”.
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard expressed feeling like he was “dying on the court” due to humidity, and Jelena Ostapenko disclosed that she had “suffered heat stroke” after retiring from her match due to illness.
