{"id":193520,"date":"2025-10-11T20:23:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-11T20:23:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/193520\/"},"modified":"2025-10-11T20:23:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T20:23:07","slug":"wta-champion-hits-out-at-wuhan-open-organisers-after-her-exit-from-the-tournament-its-no-longer-a-tennis-match","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/193520\/","title":{"rendered":"WTA champion hits out at Wuhan Open organisers after her exit from the tournament, \u2018it\u2019s no longer a tennis match\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Wuhan Open is now well underway, but the tournament hasn\u2019t gone as well as organisers would have hoped.<\/p>\n

Emma Raducanu retired<\/a> during her opener at the Wuhan Open, where soaring temperatures and extreme humidity have been wreaking havoc.<\/p>\n

Iga Swiatek asked for sensible scheduling<\/a> of the matches amid the conditions, with the Pole going on to lose in the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka remains in the draw, along with Jasmine Paolini, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula.<\/p>\n

But the challenging conditions have overshadowed the action on the court, with Magdalena Frech now speaking out following her exit from the WTA<\/a> 1000 event.<\/p>\n

\"IgaPhoto by Hermann Chu\/Eurasia Sport Images\/Getty ImagesWTA champion hits out at Wuhan Open organisers after her exit<\/p>\n

One-time WTA champion Frech fell in the round of 16 to Laura Siegemund, and took to social media shortly after to vent her frustration with tournament organisers.<\/p>\n

She wrote on X: \u201cIn response to the avalanche of negative ratings and comments after the last game, I would like to inform you that sometimes I regret it, but I am not a machine.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Wuhan Open 2025: Players, schedule, how to watch, and prize money on offer<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough I have the impression that the organisers treat us like this when setting a game plan. Playing 3 days in a row from 13-16, in extreme conditions, unfortunately it affected my health, which I always put first.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlaying at 36 degrees, with high smog, heated concrete and extreme humidity is acceptable if it does not happen every day. Unfortunately, the accumulation of this effort has consequences.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never felt anything like yesterday, despite a few years spent on the tour. Overpowering lack of energy and constant struggle of negative thoughts that tried to stop my body from another effort.<\/p>\n

\u201cHitting the ball into the court was a great challenge. It\u2019s no longer a tennis match, it\u2019s a fight for survival! To the fans, thank you for your support, your presence is of great importance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tennis clearly needs to make a change as Wuhan Open highlights major issue<\/p>\n

World number 53 Frech clearly fought her hardest against Siegemund, but the Pole was eventually beaten 4-6, 6-7(2-7) by the German.<\/p>\n

She incidentally reached that stage after Karolina Muchova retired<\/a> from their match at the Wuhan Open, with the 12th seed unable to continue in the challenging conditions.<\/p>\n

Retirements and indeed tournament withdrawals have been familiar themes of late, across both the WTA and ATP tours.<\/p>\n

Whether or not the powers that be decide to take action remains to be seen, but change is clearly needed sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n

Denmark’s Holger Rune is among many players complaining about brutal heat and humidity in Shanghai and Wuhan, with temps hitting 34\u00b0C and 80% humidity \ud83c\udf21\ufe0f<\/p>\n

Calls are growing for clearer ATP and WTA heat rules. <\/p>\n

How hot is too hot to play? \ud83c\udfbe\ud83d\ude13 pic.twitter.com\/XFGD1ZOdQG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 DW Sports (@dw_sports) October 8, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n

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Many players have already decided to take matters into their own hands, with Daria Kasatkina ending her season early<\/a> after reaching \u201cbreaking point\u201d.<\/p>\n

And she certainly isn\u2019t the only one to have made that decision, which like the retirements and withdrawals is not a good look for tennis.<\/p>\n