In his previous match, Rune hit a rough patch during his third-round win over Ugo Humbert on Sunday. Down a break early, the heat got the better of him, forcing a medical timeout. Stripped of his shirt and sitting miserably, Holger Rune didn’t hold back. He asked the chair umpire, “Hey, why doesn’t ATP have a good heat rule?” The umpire shrugged, “I don’t know, but that is a very good question.” As the physio checked his blood sugar and vitality, ice towels arrived to cool him down. Bold as ever, Rune murmured, “You want players to die on the court?”
Now, describing what it’s like to play in this heat, he added, “We can handle a certain amount of heat because we are fit, we are strong, we are also mentally strong, but there is always a limit. I think it is also important to take care of your health. We have to survive.”
The ATP says it’s taking action. In an email to Reuters, it confirmed “several measures in cases of extreme heat” and revealed that “additional measures, including the implementation of an official heat policy, are currently being evaluated in consultation with players, tournaments, and medical experts.” However, when these changes will be implemented is yet to be seen.
Among those retiring in the Masters 1000’s first week were Sinner, Casper Ruud, David Goffin, Hamad Medjedovic, Terence Atmane, Wu Yibing, and Tomas Machac. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic vomited during his matches against Yannick Hanfmann and even today against Jaume Munar while also dealing with an injury scare. Daniil Medvedev looked panting and exhausted after his round of 32 win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Monday. Both Djokovic and Medvedev have voiced concerns about conditions in Shanghai.
ATP pros echo Holger Rune’s sentiment on the Shanghai conditions
Novak Djokovic faced more than just an opponent on Sunday at the ATP Shanghai Masters 1000. Under a punishing 30°C heat and suffocating 80% humidity, the world No.1 visibly struggled, even vomiting courtside multiple times. Still, the 24-time Grand Slam champion dug deep, rallying past Yannick Hanfmann 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. “It’s the same for every player out on the court, but it’s brutal,” Djokovic said, per Daily Mail. “It’s brutal when you have over 80% humidity day after day, particularly for the guys playing during the day with heat, (but) with sun, it’s even more brutal.”
Daniil Medvedev also felt the heat—literally. The 2019 Shanghai champion outlasted Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 7-6 in just under two hours but ended the match utterly spent, soaked in sweat and breathing heavily on the bench. In a clip shared by i on X, Medvedev admitted, “Yeah, it was not easy, but for me, for him too.” He later told Championat, “It had never happened before, and I must admit that it is hard to play in these conditions.”
Medvedev didn’t mince words about the situation. “There have already been numerous withdrawals and many medical time-outs in these first days of the tournament. The situation is quite worrying. I’m happy to have played my first match here in the night session and to have won with ease.” With humidity hovering around 85%, every rally has felt like a test of survival.
Now, with Holger Rune adding his voice to the chorus of concerned players, change might finally be coming. For now, Rune is eyeing his maiden Shanghai quarterfinal clash with Valentin Vacherot—can he keep the fire going, both figuratively and literally?