{"id":68538,"date":"2025-08-14T08:13:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T08:13:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/68538\/"},"modified":"2025-08-14T08:13:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T08:13:08","slug":"the-atp-tour-must-implement-a-rule-used-at-the-australian-open-to-protect-players-in-cincinnati","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/68538\/","title":{"rendered":"The\u00a0ATP Tour must implement a rule used at the Australian Open to protect players in Cincinnati"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Players are struggling with the sweltering conditions at the Cincinnati Open.<\/p>\n

With temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius, players are understandably finding the conditions tough to deal with in Cincinnati<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Arthur Rinderknech was the latest player to retire mid-match on Monday, after collapsing on court.<\/p>\n

\"ArthurPhoto by Matthew Stockman\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

The ATP Tour<\/a> must make changes. The health of players is being put at risk by continuing to compete in these conditions for hours on end.<\/p>\n

The tour must introduce a policy to help mitigate these high temperatures, a policy already in place at the Australian Open<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The ATP Tour must introduce a \u2018Heat Stress Scale\u2019 at the Cincinnati Open<\/p>\n

Arthur Rinderknech\u2019s collapse was shocking, and clearly a terrifying moment for the Frenchman. No player should have to deal with conditions so extreme that they can no longer physically function on court.<\/p>\n

Therefore, the ATP Tour must introduce a policy used at the Australian Open: the Heat Stress Scale.<\/p>\n

This scale assesses the risk players face at certain temperatures. The assessment includes four factors: the radiant heat, air temperature, wind speed, and humidity.<\/p>\n

These factors are then used to evaluate whether it is safe for players to be competing. The scale ranges from one to five, with play being suspended if the conditions are severe enough to reach level five.<\/p>\n

This policy has served to protect players at the Australian Open: a tournament where temperatures have reached 40 degrees Celsius.<\/p>\n

\"AlizePhoto by Michael Dodge\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

While the WTA Tour has implemented the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) policy, which allows for a 10-minute break between the second and third set if temperatures breach 30.1 degrees Celsius, there is no such policy on the ATP Tour.<\/p>\n

The conditions, while a test of mettle for any professional athlete, have reached a point where the safety of the players is at risk.<\/p>\n

Therefore, the ATP Tour must work in tandem with the Cincinnati Open to implement a Heat Stress Scale or similar policy at the tournament.<\/p>\n

Brad Gilbert compares the ATP and WTA\u2019s management of adverse heat<\/p>\n

Brad Gilbert, the former coach of Andre Agassi<\/a> and Andy Murray<\/a>, has weighed in on the issue.<\/p>\n

Gilbert, who has also worked with Coco Gauff<\/a> and Kei Nishikori<\/a>, took to social media to propose the idea of implementing an ATP Tour policy concerning the \u2018heat.\u2019<\/p>\n

On X [Twitter] Gilbert said: \u201cThere isn\u2019t a heat rule I believe [at the] ATP level. <\/p>\n

there isn\u2019t a heat \ud83e\udd75 rule i believe @atptour<\/a> level. the @WTA<\/a> has something that there is 10 min break after 2sets, should definitely \ud83d\udc4d be something if to extreme no play, like they have in melbourne, or if over heat index 10 mins break after 2sets<\/p>\n

\u2014 Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) August 12, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

\u201cThe WTA has something, that there is [a] 10 minute break after two sets. Should definitely be something if too extreme to play, like they have in Melbourne, or if over heat index, [a] 10 minutes break after two sets.\u201c<\/p>\n