A ball girl at the French Open required assistance to leave the court after nearly fainting during the extreme heat at Roland Garros on Monday. The incident occurred during the match between 11th seed Andrey Rublev and Ignacio Buse, when the ball girl began to stumble at the back of the court, prompting a brief halt in play.
Umpire and Lineswoman Respond Quickly
Sensing something was wrong, the chair umpire immediately descended from her position and rushed to assist the girl. A lineswoman also stepped in, offering her chair for the girl to sit on. The ball girl appeared to indicate she was not feeling well and was eventually helped off the court. Reports later confirmed she was recovering well.
Scorching Conditions at Roland Garros
Temperatures soared to 33 degrees Celsius, causing many players to struggle with the brutal conditions. Both Rublev and Buse called for the trainer on separate occasions during their gruelling three-hour-and-39-minute battle, which Rublev eventually won 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3, 7-5. While the heat was not as intense as that experienced at the Australian Open, it still came as a shock to many players, with conditions in Paris being compared to those during the Olympics, which were held in July and August.
Four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek commented on the difference after her match against Australian Emerson Jones, which she won 6-1, 6-2. "It is much different. Maybe it was that hot in the Olympics, but the balls were different, so I wouldn't treat it as the same tournament," Swiatek said.
Players and Fans Seek Relief
Players have been placing bags of ice around their necks during changeovers to stay cool, while fans have been refreshing themselves under sprinklers. When workers water the clay courts between sets, they have taken to directing their hoses at spectators begging to be doused as well.
Australian Daria Kasatkina won her first-round match 6-4, 6-4 against Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez, describing it as the hottest day she could remember in her 11 French Opens. "I don't remember the last time it was so hot at Roland Garros," she said. "Maybe one day. But we're going to have it for the whole week." Kasatkina noted that the energy-sapping temperatures led to more unpredictable matches. "You can suddenly just get out of the bench and feel that your focus dropped," she said. "So this is a battle which you have to also win. Whoever adapts better to today's conditions gets it."
Heat Affects Player Performance
Canadian player Gabriel Diallo cited the heat as the main reason for his retirement midway through his match against Australian James Duckworth on Sunday. The French Open is typically cooler compared to the Australian Open and US Open, which are known for their heat.
The Australian Open has a strict heat protocol that sets thresholds for cooling interventions. In extreme heat, the tournament referee can suspend play or order extra cooling breaks. French Open organizers did not immediately respond to a request asking if they have a similar heat protocol.
However, some players embraced the hotter conditions, including Australian Alex de Minaur. "I've always preferred hot and lively conditions to chilly on a clay court, because I feel like I can bring a little bit more of my all-court tennis on this type of surface," he said after beating Toby Samuel 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. "It's easier to be a little bit more aggressive. The ball is jumping. I don't necessarily have to use as much spin or heaviness, and I can let the conditions do the job for me. And it's quite physical. I don't mind the heat."
— with AAP
