‘You want a player to die?’ Heat is on tennis after players wilt in extreme conditions

Every year players are pushed to their limits in a sport that chases the sun. But the number of retirements, withdrawals and injuries this season has been shocking

Aryna Sabalenka holds ice on her head and covers herself with a towel during a change over against Amanda Anisimova at Wimbledon this year. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Jannik Sinner had tried everything but after baking for two and a half hours inside the sauna of Shanghai’s stadium court, he was finished. Even around midnight, the humidity was still so oppressive that Sinner had spent the final 20 minutes of his third-round match against Tallon Griekspoor cramping, panting and in considerable pain.

Eventually, he could not even walk properly. Midway through the final set, the 24‑year‑old hobbled slowly to his chair using his racket as a crutch and terminated the match.