Wednesday’s “brutal” match in New York highlighted the increased risk for players, and new data shows that the Grand Slams are indeed getting hotter.
“A player will die,” warned Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev during yesterday’s US Open match in brutal heat.
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As New York sweltered in a heat wave, the former world number one struggled to secure his spot in Friday’s championship semifinals.
But the 35 degrees Celsius took their toll. In the game against his opponent, Russia’s Andrey Rublev, who was also soaked in sweat, Medvedev clearly struggled with his breathing and vision.
“A player will die and you will see it,” the number three seeded player told a camera during the match, the hottest day of the tournament so far.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has confirmed that the Sommer 2023 the hottest on record. A stark reminder of how much the world will suffer as the climate crisis deepens.
What are the rules for tennis players during heat waves?
After the game, Medvedev compared the “brutal” heat to the conditions he experienced during the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.
These Games provided a global stage for the new reality of sport in times of climate change. Numerous athletes passed out and suffered serious health problems due to the intense heat.
The US Open has had its own account of the heat in recent years. In 2018, a tennis fan collapsed in the stands in 32 degrees Celsius and stifling humidity while several players required medical attention.
As a result, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) introduced special rules that allowed men a 10-minute break between sets two and three, as is the case for women.
With conditions similar to this year, Medvedev and Rublev were able to take advantage of that reprieve and other short breaks between sets by taking cold showers, sitting under ice towels and taking advantage of the air conditioning at their seats.
“By the end of the first set, I couldn’t see the ball anymore. I played from my gut – I tried to play, run, catch the balls – and he sometimes did the same,” said Medvedev, who has two medical doctors needed downtime and an inhaler to keep going.
The USTA on Tuesday introduced a new rule for the remainder of the tournament: it allowed the retractable roof to be closed over the court — a move normally only taken to keep out the rain.
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Grand Slam tournaments are heating up, analysis shows
A new analysis from the Associated Press (AP) shows that Grand Slam tennis tournaments are starting to feel hotter.
AP tracked the Thermal Comfort Index, which measures air temperature in degrees while also accounting for humidity, thermal radiation, wind and other factors that affect the body’s response to the weather.
All Grand Slam tournaments have been examined since 1988, the first year in which all four tournaments had 128 players. On average, maximum temperatures at these tournaments have increased by almost 3°C.
“People hear that and don’t think it’s very much. It’s not necessarily perceived as alarming. Sometimes a change of 3 or 4 degrees can double or even triple the number of hot days we’re experiencing right now,” said Daniel Bader, a climate scientist at Columbia University.
“Temperatures have been rising in New York City and this trend is expected to continue in the future.”
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How long will the New York heat wave last?
The city’s mayor issued a heat warning on Tuesday, urging New Yorkers not to stay outdoors for too long, to stay hydrated and, if necessary, to stay hydrated air-conditioned seek refuge in public institutions.
Dangerously high temperatures and high humidity in the city’s northeast will continue through Thursday evening, according to the National Weather Service’s latest forecast.
A weather front will be moving eastward bringing showers and severe thunderstorms across parts of New York State on Friday when the men’s semifinals take place.
The heat will then shift south, affecting Arizona and southern California.
2023-09-07 16:04:40
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