The ATP Tour is adding a rule to tackle the extreme heat during men’s professional tennis matches, allowing 10-minute breaks during best-of-three-sets singles matches starting next season. This rule is similar to what was introduced on the women’s circuit more than 30 years ago.
The ATP board’s approval of the new policy, announced Monday, strengthens “protections for players competing in extreme conditions,” the tour said.
At the Shanghai Masters in October, some players called on the ATP to introduce guidance to help them in cases of extreme heat and humidity. Defending champion Jannik Sinner stopped playing a match there due to severe leg cramps; 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic complained about the conditions after vomiting during a victory.
“It’s brutal when you have more than 80% humidity day after day,” Djokovic said at the time, “especially for the boys when they play during the day in the heat and in the sun.”
The WTA first established a rule in 1992 to protect players in the heat. The new ATP rule is based on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which takes into account heat, humidity and other factors. When the WBGT reaches at least 30.1 degrees Celsius (approximately 86.2 Fahrenheit) in either of the first two sets of a best-of-three match, each player may request a 10-minute stoppage of play.
If the WBGT exceeds 32.2 degrees Celsius (approximately 90 Fahrenheit), the competition will be stopped.
During the breaks, players can change clothes, shower, hydrate or use other ways to cool down – under the supervision of ATP medical staff – and can also receive coaching.
ATP said the rule aims to “protect the health of players, while at the same time improving conditions for spectators, officials, ball handlers and tournament staff.”
Grand Slam tournaments determine their own heat policy. The US Open, French Open and Wimbledon also have rules based on WBGT measurements, as does the tennis competition at the Olympic Games, which is organized by the International Tennis Federation. The Australian Open uses something called the Heat Stress Scale.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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