10 September 2023 , 15:59
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As the sun beat down on Flushing Meadows, players and the crowd sweltered in the oppressive humidity.
Daniil Medvedev was particularly struggling on Wednesday afternoon at the US Open during his quarter-final match against Andrey Rublev. The world number three turned the camera and said: “One player is gonna die. And they’re gonna see.”
Other players have also been suffering as New York baked in a late summer heatwave, which has been made worse by the humidity and lack of breeze. The uncomfortable conditions led organisers to announce that they will partly close the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof when the humidity and temperature get too much – which until now only occurs when rain impacts play.
According to a recent Associated Press study of average high temperatures of the four tennis Slams over the past 35 years, there has been a “dangerous” increase in recent years, with climate change cited as the catalyst. The Australian Open has always been seen as the Grand Slam event which has been most affected from extreme heat. In 2020, players were also left gasping when smoke from the bushfires impacted air quality.
While the study found Melbourne’s temperature had risen the most sharply during its tournament by 3.5C, the US Open – which has had an overall rise of 1.5C since 1988 – has also been the hottest of the four tournaments in any given year. In that period, the US Grand Slam has been responsible for 10 players out of 17 retiring early because of the soaring heat.
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In 2018, temperatures of 32C and crushing humidity caused a tennis fan to collapse in the stands, while six players pulled out of the men’s draw on day two. In 1997, when court surface temperatures jumped to 54C, players feared that their trainers would melt. Tennis is not the only sport to be impacted by heatwaves. Athletics, football and cricket have also seen players hospitalised. And this is life at just 1.2C of global warming.
Drastic action is urgently needed so temperatures do not rise any more to ensure Medvedev’s warning does not become the reality.