The searing heat at the French Open took its toll on Czech star Jakub Mensik, who collapsed after winning an epic five-set second-round match and had to be helped into a wheelchair after leaving court.
Mensik branded the conditions ‘insane’ after battling for four hours and 41 minutes in the baking Roland Garros sun against Mariano Navone where he dropped to the clay with severe cramp immediately after hitting the deciding point in a mammoth fifth-set tie-break that secured a 6-3 2-6 6-4 1-6 7-6 (13-11) victory.
Paramedics rushed to his aid to bring ice packs, which Mensik used as a pillow as he lay on the dirt, while Navone came over to check he was okay before shaking hands.
Mensik eventually got to his feet after more than five minutes and took a few steps towards the exit only for the colour to drain from his face and was quickly helped into a wheelchair and an ice pack placed on his head.
‘It’s insane to play in this weather and especially in front of the sun,’ said Mensik. ‘To be there for more than four-and-a-half hours, that’s just insane. Even with the breaks, you don’t have that much time.
‘When I hit the last point, the last winner, the emotions went out and my body just turned off. I was not able to do anything.
Tennis stars have been battling extreme heat at the French Open, with Jakub Mensik collapsing on court
‘The ending says it all, but I’m just happy that I kept fighting.’
The 20-year-old, one of only two people to beat Jannik Sinner this year, clutched his thigh as soon as he served the final point but managed to hit a forehand winner before collapsing to the clay.
Players and spectators have suffered in the unbearable conditions all week in Paris, with temperatures consistently in the mid-30s. Many of the seats in Court Philippe-Chatrier exposed to the sun were left empty during Novak Djokovic’s victory over Valentin Royer.
Djokovic later called for the French Open and other Grand Slams to implement the rule used at the Australian Open where play is suspended on outside courts if the temperature reaches a certain level.
‘Honestly, with Grand Slams it shouldn’t be an issue because we have so many courts,’ said Djokovic. ‘We have lights.You have big courts. You can play the matches. You can reschedule them some other courts and still have the crowd in the stadium and everything.
‘Is itideal to go over midnight and have? It’s not. But if you have certain days that you have extreme heat and conditions, then maybe that’s something to consider.’
Stars have packed towels with ice, and Casper Rudd said: ‘It feels a bit like heatstroke. I had something similar a few years ago when I had to retire in the third set in Washington. That was the only time I’ve felt the same way as today, where I was really dizzy at times, totally exhausted, and practically walking around like a zombie.’
Players have been scrambling for ways to battle the heat, but some have come up short. Eva Lys, after playing in the mid-day heat on Monday, said: ‘The conditions were very difficult. I made a point of drinking a lot and hoping I wouldn’t be the one to collapse.
‘Everything you drink, you sweat out. Running from right to left, you sweat buckets, the racket doesn’t stay in your hand, it’s not easy. Generally, I don’t have a problem with the heat until it gets as hot as it has been the last few days. You have to pay incredibly close attention to your diet, how much you drink, and that you’re getting enough salt and electrolytes.’
Former world No 1 Iga Swiatek added: ‘When we first arrived here, it was around 16 degrees Celsius and the ball was extremely heavy. You could put your entire body weight and all your power into the ball and still feel like you were in control. Now you need much more feel, and you can’t take too many risks.
Casper Ruud said players have been walking round ‘like zombies’ at Roland Garros
‘It’s also a bit easier to play higher and with spin. The ball bounces faster off the ground, which gives you an advantage, I would say. But first, you have to be able to control the ball because it’s faster in the air and it’s easier to hit it out of bounds.’
Two wet bulb sensors are used to monitor heat at the French Open – one on Court Philippe Chatrier and one on Court 14.
Players can be granted 10-minute breaks after the second sets of women’s matches and third in men’s matches, while matches can be suspended if temperatures soar further.
Fran Jones, meanwhile, became the fifth Brit to crash out of the French Open to leave Katie Boulter as the only hopeful left standing at Roland Garros.
Jones slumped to a 6-0, 7-6 defeat to Czech 27th seed Marie Bouzkova, the same scoreline suffered by Emma Raducanu in her first-round defeat, where both started poorly but battled back in vain.
Boulter faces 28th seed Anastasia Potapova this afternoon to try to keep British hopes alive.
