Tennis players' health has come to the forefront once more after Daria Kasatkina urged Japan Open organizers to protect players from the brutal conditions.
Two years ago the Olympic Games were played in Tokyo during a heatwave which caused a lot of controversies. The conditions were brutal as players regularly played in crazy temperatures, causing problems for a few of them.
Paula Badosa notably retired from her match after feeling unwell due to a likely heatstroke, with Daniil Medvedev blasting the event for the inhuman conditions as well. He echoed similar sentiments at the US Open recently, repeating his words from Tokyo about players potentially dying on the court.
It's a harrowing thing to think about, but it's not unheard of in sports. Yes, athletes are not your regular person, but even they have a limit, especially when you put them up against the Sun, which assuredly wins that battle.
Medvedev urged governing bodies to think and act before something bad happens. After playing her match in severe heat, Daria Kasatkina had a similar plea to the Japan Open organizers.
We cannot do much about it. We are using the ice towels and some supplements to keep you hydrated. By at the end, you cannot fight with something you cannot control.
I think in these kinds of conditions, if you have a roof, better maybe to close it. If you have these opportunities, better to use it than to make players almost die on the field.
It's been a talking point, especially this year with the rather warm summer worldwide. Players have been playing in brutal conditions for years, but it should be addressed in some ways because one of these days, we're going to get that dreaded scenario and by then, it will be too late. Talk about a tragedy, especially a preventable one.
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