How do French Open players deal with the heat wave in Paris?

The first week of the French Open produced several major upsets (two) like people collapsing on the court due to the hot conditions.

While temperatures in Europe are extremely hot at this time of year, it is not as hot in the Sahara in the middle of summer. To really understand why people are struggling on the field in the heat, you have to look at a mysterious measure known as wet globe temperature. Consider it a modified version of the old saying, “It is not the temperature, it is the humidity” that is best suited to measure the effect of temperature on human health.

One female tennis player nearly fainted during a first-round match on Monday, while men’s player Jakub Mencic collapsed on the red clay at Roland Garros on Thursday after a five-set match, saying his body “just shut down.” Players spend time between matches sitting in the shade and placing ice packs on their heads and shoulders, all in an attempt to beat the oppressive heat.

Temperatures have hovered in the low to mid-90s (or 30s C for Celsius fans), due to a “heat dome,” a continuous area of ​​high pressure that traps warm air and causes temperatures to rise. This is where the wet globe temperature comes in.

The scale “takes into account multiple aspects of environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, solar radiation and wind,” says Rachel Cottle, a postdoctoral research fellow at Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas. “This is important because when we think about how stressful the environment is, we need to take into account all of these variables that may increase the risk of heat-related illness.”

A humid globe temperature of 86°F (30°C) may not sound so bad, but it marks the beginning of the danger zone for human health. At this temperature, sweat does not evaporate as efficiently as it does at lower temperatures. Cottle has conducted research showing that even healthy young people start having problems when their wet-bulb temperature — a measure that focuses on humidity and temperature — reaches about 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees Celsius).

“While there is still a limit for athletes, their greater cardiovascular fitness, and perhaps heat acclimation, will result in them having higher limits than non-athletes and non-acclimated people,” said health researcher Kat Fisher. “Going into the shade and cooling the body with ice can help lower the core temperature and help limit persistent rise in temperature.”

Having better endurance is not what all athletes are for when it comes to beating the heat. “Athletes and fit individuals sweat more, which helps them cool down more. They also start sweating earlier, so their bodies can start to cool down faster. Athletes are essentially more efficient vests,” Cottle points out, while also emphasizing that even the most efficient vests walking among us mere mortals have their limits. Without getting plenty of rest and cooling, the risk of heat stroke or heart problems goes up.

The French Tennis Federation is said to be keeping two thermometers that can measure the wet-ball temperature on Roland Garros courts, with plans to extend breaks between sets or even cancel matches if they exceed a certain threshold. Humid-surface temperatures at the French Open have not yet reached these levels despite some matches being played during the hottest parts of the day on courts without shade. But health issues at the stadium have highlighted the risks, and temperatures are expected to be higher in the coming days as the stalled heat dome over the region intensifies.

The other three Grand Slam tournaments – Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the US Open – have heat plans in place that allow players to take longer breaks and cool off. All events rely on wet globe measurements for their implementation.