ATP evaluating heat policy after retirements

The governing body of men’s tennis could consider a formal heat rule after a string of retirements at the Shanghai Masters blew the draw wide open, with top players wilting under soaring temperatures and punishing humidity.

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World No. 2 Jannik Sinner’s title defence ended in agony on Oct 5, when the Italian struggled to walk due to cramp in his right thigh before he retired in the deciding set of his last-32 clash with Tallon Griekspoor.

Serena Williams’ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou took to social media to defend the Italian’s decision.

He posted on Instagram that what Sinner “had to endure was brutal - a classic example of what it’s like to play in extreme humidity”. In the video, he said: “To explain Sinner’s cramps, there is only one word: Humidity.”

Novak Djokovic vomited during his encounter with Yannick Hanfmann, while Holger Rune was heard asking an official during a medical timeout during his meeting with Ugo Humbert if players had to “die on court” amid the heat and humidity.