{"id":141024,"date":"2025-08-13T00:36:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T00:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/141024\/"},"modified":"2025-08-13T00:36:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T00:36:10","slug":"professional-tennis-analyst-calls-for-rule-change-on-the-atp-tour-after-developments-in-cincinnati","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/141024\/","title":{"rendered":"Professional tennis analyst calls for rule change on the ATP Tour after developments in Cincinnati"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The conditions in Cincinnati have been brutal, as several players have struggled with the heat.<\/strong><\/p>\n

During his third-round match with Felix Auger-Aliassime<\/a>, French star Arthur Rinderknech became overwhelmed by the scorching-hot weather in Cincinnati.<\/p>\n

After losing the first set in a tiebreaker 6-7 [4-7], Rinderknech was level at 2-2 in the second when he collapsed to the floor.<\/p>\n

\"ArthurPhoto by Matthew Stockman\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Receiving medical attention, the 30-year-old was helped to cool down by the Cincinnati Open<\/a> staff, who gave him ice packs.<\/p>\n

However, after suggesting he was ready to continue, Rinderknech played just two more games before retiring from the match, sending Auger-Aliassime through to the fourth round.<\/p>\n

Becoming the latest in a long list of players to have struggled with the heat in Cincinnati, Rinderknech\u2019s retirement prompted one top ATP Tour<\/a> analyst to question whether a rule change could be in order.<\/p>\n

Mike James questions whether it\u2019s \u2018time for a heat rule\u2019 in men\u2019s tennis<\/p>\n

Taking to X in the aftermath of Rinderknech\u2019s retirement, professional tennis analyst Mike James shared his thoughts.<\/p>\n

\u201c13 retirements in the men\u2019s draw over the last two days,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s brutal out there \u2013 time for a heat rule on the men\u2019s side.\u201d<\/p>\n

Realizing his numbers were slightly off, James corrected himself, but reiterated his belief that a \u2018heat rule\u2019 could benefit players.<\/p>\n

\n

My bad \u2014 it\u2019s actually 6 retirements since the start of the tournament but still! Many more players have called for the physios to court with temps hitting 35\u00b0C (95\u00b0F) and humidity pushing 70%, conditions in #Cincinnati<\/a> are brutal. \ud83c\udf21\ufe0f Time for a heat rule on the men\u2019s side?\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Mike James (@mikejamestennis) August 11, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

\u201cMy bad \u2013 it\u2019s actually six retirements since the start of the tournament but still\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany more players have called for the physios to court with temperatures hitting 35\u00b0C (95\u00b0F) and humidity pushing 70%, conditions in Cincinnati are brutal.<\/p>\n

\u201cTime for a heat rule on the men\u2019s side?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ArthurPhoto by Matthew Stockman\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Since the tournament began, four players have officially retired mid-match at the Cincinnati Open.<\/p>\n\nPlayer<\/strong><\/td>\nRound<\/strong><\/td>\nOpponent<\/strong><\/td>\nScore<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nArthur Rinderknech<\/td>\n3R<\/td>\nFelix Auger-Aliassime<\/td>\n6-7, 2-4 (RET)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nAlejandro Davidovich Fokina<\/td>\n2R<\/td>\nJoao Fonseca<\/td>\n7-6, 4-5 (RET)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nCamilo Ugo Carabelli<\/td>\n2R<\/td>\nBen Shelton<\/td>\n3-6, 1-3 (RET)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLuciano Darderi<\/td>\n2R<\/td>\nFrancisco Comesana<\/td>\n4-6, 1-3 (RET)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

ATP retirements at the Cincinnati Open<\/p>\n

There have been several other players, including Britain\u2019s Cameron Norrie, who looked set to retire before battling through to the end of the match.<\/p>\n

In his second-round defeat to Spain\u2019s Roberto Bautista-Agut, Norrie looked ill throughout and was sweating profusely.<\/p>\n

James believes \u2018heat breaks\u2019 could prevent such incidents from occurring on the ATP Tour, but are there any similar rules already in place?<\/p>\n

The LTA\u2019s \u2018extreme heat procedures\u2019<\/p>\n

In the UK, the Lawn Tennis Association<\/a> [LTA] clarified its \u2018extreme heat procedures\u2019 in 2022 for tournaments under its jurisdiction.<\/p>\n

Providing support for referees, the procedures outlined what should happen when temperatures get too hot.<\/p>\n

Modification of play<\/p>\n