Tennis players face the heat of the Shanghai and Wuhan tournaments

“Do you want a player to die on the field?”

That was the question Holger Rune asked an official as he was treated by a doctor and physio in grueling conditions at the Shanghai Masters.

With temperatures reaching 34C and humidity at 80% during the day at the end of a long season, players are physically feeling the impact.

Conditions are similar 500 miles to the west at the Wuhan Open, where Emma Raducanu retired from her first-round match Tuesday with dizziness. On Monday, matches on the outdoor courts were halted and the roof of the main court closed.

After retiring with illness from a match against Sorana Cirstea on Tuesday, former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko revealed she “suffered heat stroke.”

Iga Swiatek enjoyed a 6-1 6-1 rout of Marie Bouzkova, but the world number two said she was grateful she didn’t play on Monday when the heat was “too much for most players”.

“I hope the other matches will be scheduled at a time when the girls can compete, rather than dying on the field,” Swiatek added.

Back in Shanghai, Rune had his blood pressure taken and an ice towel wrapped around his shoulders after feeling sore in his third-round victory over Ugo Humbert on Sunday.

Novak Djokovic said the conditions of his grueling third-round victory were “brutal”, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard said he felt like he was “dying on the court” because of the humidity, and Jannik Sinner could barely walk as he was hit by cramps in his match on Sunday night.

Terence Atmane, who retired from his first-round match on Thursday, posted on Instagram that his stress on the court was increased by the heat.

“After the first point of the match, both my hands were shaking,” wrote the Frenchman.

“After the second game and a comfortable 2-0 lead, I immediately felt my whole body shaking and I was choking after every point.

“The heat stress I faced today could have been worse than losing consciousness for an hour and a rapid heartbeat…”

Rune, as he was addressed on Sunday, questioned why the men’s governing body, the ATP, has no heat rules in place.

“That’s a very good question,” was the response.

Denmark’s rune returned to the theme on Tuesday after a three-set victory over Maptshi Perricard in the fourth round.

The world number 11 said he thought “every player would agree” that a rule should be introduced.

“We can handle some heat, because we are also strong and mentally strong, but there is always a limit.

“It is also important to take care of your health. We must survive.”