Novak Djokovic pulled through in some very challenging conditions to advance to the third round of the French Open. The Serb, who was competing against French local Valentin Royer, was visibly struggling during the day-session slot amid the heatwave in Paris.
After closing out the match in four sets, Djokovic called out the French Open’s heat policy, which he believed was non-existent.
Novak Djokovic Draws Attention to French Open’s Questionable Heat Rule
Multiple players have faced severe consequences of the ongoing heatwave in Paris, with temperatures soaring upward of 93 Fahrenheit (33.9 degrees Celsius). During his opening match against Roman Safiullin, Casper Ruud, who was leading 6-2, 7-6(5), 5-2, suffered a sudden collapse in his level and squandered five match points. The temperature reportedly hovered around 91.4 Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius).
After saving the match with a 6-2, 7-6(5), 5-7, 0-6, 6-2 score, Ruud revealed he had a “heatstroke feeling” and felt “really dizzy, really tired, walking around like a zombie.” Jakub Menšík also survived a five-set scare in the second round against Mariano Navone, winning 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(11) in just under five hours. The Czech star, who could hardly move in the final moments of the match, collapsed on the court in relief but couldn’t get up. He required urgent medical help after his body began cramping severely.
Djokovic, meanwhile, competed on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Wednesday in similar conditions. The Serb had a match point to close the match in straight sets but couldn’t capitalize. He eventually secured a 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(7), 6-3 win. After the match, the three-time champion said, “I really don’t understand why they don’t have the heat rule. I actually didn’t know. I thought there is in every Slam, but then someone told me Roland Garros has no heat rules.”
A heatwave during the French Open is unprecedented. The French Tennis Federation (FFT) has never called off a match because of extreme heat. According to France 24, though, the organizers have a plan in place to suspend matches on all courts if the reading on one of their two wet bulb thermometers, placed on Court Philippe Chatrier and Court 14, reaches 90 Fahrenheit (32.2 degrees Celsius).
Meanwhile, players are entitled to a 10-minute break between third and fourth sets (men) and second and third sets (women) if the WBGT reaches 86.2 Fahrenheit (30.1 degrees Celsius) before the match starts. The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index measures how effectively the human body cools itself under heat, humidity, sun exposure, and wind.
Djokovic brushed off “another index, formula, or combination” and pondered the idea of closing the roof on show courts.
“It’s always a discussion. But then if you close one roof, then the others are playing; it’s not fair. Why would you close the center court, and then everyone else has to be playing in the heat? I wouldn’t agree with that, even though for me it would be great if I played on center court with the roof closed on such a hot day.”
“In Australia, we’ve seen that there were some delays of play. An hour, two hours, three hours until the index comes back down. I think that’s fair,” he said.
Djokovic also entertained the idea of starting matches late and playing past midnight in extremely special conditions when the temperatures are soaring during the day. He noted that Grand Slams shouldn’t have a problem with scheduling matches late given their comprehensive infrastructure to accommodate multiple matches after weather-related delays.
A day after the Serb’s brutal match, World No. 1 Jannik Sinner also suffered severe consequences of the temperature trending upward of 92 Fahrenheit (33.3 degrees Celsius). Sinner was two sets and 5-1 up when he started struggling physically and dramatically lost the match 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1.
Djokovic now has another day-session match lined up. He faces João Fonseca for a place in the fourth round.
