The brutal Chinese heat strikes again — another tennis star forced to retire mid-match. What’s going on with the extreme conditions plaguing both the Wuhan and Shanghai tournaments? Players are collapsing, matches are being abandoned, and everyone’s asking the same question: should the tennis calendar really continue like this?
China’s rising temperatures have wreaked havoc across the tennis world this week, pushing athletes to their physical limits. Even 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic had a health scare at the Shanghai Masters when his heart rate had to be checked during play. Australian player Alex de Minaur described the conditions in Shanghai as “rare” for the ATP Tour — a combination of heat and humidity unlike anything most players face. Another ATP competitor openly admitted he struggled to breathe on court. And now, the chaos has reached the WTA side in Wuhan.
Karolína Muchová’s tough withdrawal at the Wuhan Open
Former French Open finalist Karolína Muchová has had her fair share of injury battles in recent seasons, but this time, her issue wasn’t physical damage — it was the punishing weather. Coming off a disappointing result at the China Open, where she lost to eventual champion Amanda Anisimova and dropped over 500 ranking points, Muchová seemed ready to bounce back in Wuhan.
In her first-round match, she fought through a grueling three-setter against Marta Kostyuk, bravely rallying from a set down despite the stifling heat. But in the second round against Magdalena Frech, her resilience met its limit. After calling a medical timeout to have her vitals checked, Muchová pressed on — only to lose the next two games and ultimately retire mid-match. Frech advanced, while the crowd watched in concern as yet another player succumbed to the oppressive conditions.
A pattern of retirements — and growing frustration
Muchová’s retirement adds to an alarming trend: a staggering 11 players have withdrawn this week across both Shanghai and Wuhan. Out of these, six have been confirmed as heat-related. The list includes world number two Jannik Sinner, who was forced out due to intense cramping in Shanghai, and former US Open champion Emma Raducanu, who retired citing poor visibility and illness in Wuhan.
Here’s a look at all players who have withdrawn:
| Player | Reason for Retirement |
|---------|----------------------|
| Yibing Wu | Left thigh injury |
| Terence Atmane | Heat-related illness |
| Hamad Medjedovic | Heat/Blisters |
| Casper Ruud | Wrist injury |
| David Goffin | Unknown injury |
| Tomas Machac | Right knee injury |
| Jannik Sinner | Cramping (Heat-related) |
| Dayana Yastremska | Neck injury |
| Emma Raducanu | Illness (Poor visibility) |
| Jelena Ostapenko | Illness (Confirmed heat stroke) |
| Karolína Muchová | Heat-related illness |
Are players being pushed too far?
With temperatures climbing into the mid-30s Celsius (around 86°F) and humidity levels soaring, it’s clear the Asian tournaments have turned into an endurance test rather than a showcase of skill. Many players and fans are starting to question the system itself. Is the tennis calendar simply too packed? Are players getting adequate recovery time between tournaments?
Even current top stars like Iga Świątek and Carlos Alcaraz have recently spoken out about the punishing schedule, suggesting that tennis authorities need to rethink how the tours are structured.
But here’s where it gets controversial: should tournaments in extreme climates be rescheduled entirely? Or should tennis federations impose stricter safety measures before someone’s health is seriously endangered?
Fans are divided — some argue that adapting to different climates is part of the sport, while others call it a reckless risk to player welfare. What do you think? Should the ATP and WTA make drastic changes to protect their players, or is this just part of the game’s natural challenge? Share your thoughts below — this debate is far from over.
