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Weather Plays Spoilsport At Cincinnati Open As Players Struggle In Poor Conditions originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Cincinnati Masters, one of the crown jewels of the ATP 1000 calendar, is in full swing and as always, it’s delivering high-intensity matches with big names and plenty of drama. But this time, the fiercest challenge isn’t coming from across the net.
Instead, it’s bearing down from above. With the mercury soaring to a blistering 93°F, the tournament has turned into a test of survival as much as skill. Players have been pushed to their limits, with some collapsing mid-match, others taking extended breaks just to recover, and Frances Tiafoe becoming the latest to feel the brutal effects.
Fans hoping to see Tiafoe make another deep run in Cincinnati were left disappointed as the Maryland native had to call it quits in the second set of his fourth-round clash with No. 7 seed Holger Rune.
From early on, Tiafoe looked uncomfortable in the sweltering heat often draping a wet towel over his neck and face between points. By the end of the first set, a tightening lower back injury sealed his fate forcing him to retire and end his campaign early. However, this is not a one-off this tournament rather a growing trend which is becoming concerning at the very least.
It’s been a rough week in Cincinnati, with the heat taking out more players than their opponents. On Aug. 11, Felix Auger-Aliassime moved into the Round of 16 without hitting a ball after Arthur Rinderknech collapsed from the scorching conditions and couldn’t continue.
The next day, Francisco Comesana had to pause mid-match against Reilly Opelka to get medical help for heat stress though he came back to win in three sets. Jakub Mensik lasted just 43 minutes on Aug. 12 before illness forced him out, while Alejandro Davidovich Fokina pulled the plug early in his opener to save energy for the U.S. Open. Coco Gauff summed it up best: playing here is always a sweat fest.
On Aug. 13, Mason clocked in at 85°F, but with 66% humidity it felt closer to 93 and that’s just in the shade. The National Weather Service says the weekend could push into the mid-90s, but for players, it’s even worse.
The Lindner Family Tennis Center’s hard courts trap heat, making it 10 to 20 degrees hotter right where they’re competing. “Dealing with this kind of heat is one of the toughest parts of the job,” Carlos Alcaraz said recently in London. “It’s brutal to play in, but as pros, we have to adapt as quickly as we can.”
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Continue reading...
The Cincinnati Masters, one of the crown jewels of the ATP 1000 calendar, is in full swing and as always, it’s delivering high-intensity matches with big names and plenty of drama. But this time, the fiercest challenge isn’t coming from across the net.
Instead, it’s bearing down from above. With the mercury soaring to a blistering 93°F, the tournament has turned into a test of survival as much as skill. Players have been pushed to their limits, with some collapsing mid-match, others taking extended breaks just to recover, and Frances Tiafoe becoming the latest to feel the brutal effects.
Fans hoping to see Tiafoe make another deep run in Cincinnati were left disappointed as the Maryland native had to call it quits in the second set of his fourth-round clash with No. 7 seed Holger Rune.
From early on, Tiafoe looked uncomfortable in the sweltering heat often draping a wet towel over his neck and face between points. By the end of the first set, a tightening lower back injury sealed his fate forcing him to retire and end his campaign early. However, this is not a one-off this tournament rather a growing trend which is becoming concerning at the very least.
A Growing List of Heat-related Issues at the Cincinnati Masters
It’s been a rough week in Cincinnati, with the heat taking out more players than their opponents. On Aug. 11, Felix Auger-Aliassime moved into the Round of 16 without hitting a ball after Arthur Rinderknech collapsed from the scorching conditions and couldn’t continue.
The next day, Francisco Comesana had to pause mid-match against Reilly Opelka to get medical help for heat stress though he came back to win in three sets. Jakub Mensik lasted just 43 minutes on Aug. 12 before illness forced him out, while Alejandro Davidovich Fokina pulled the plug early in his opener to save energy for the U.S. Open. Coco Gauff summed it up best: playing here is always a sweat fest.
On Aug. 13, Mason clocked in at 85°F, but with 66% humidity it felt closer to 93 and that’s just in the shade. The National Weather Service says the weekend could push into the mid-90s, but for players, it’s even worse.
The Lindner Family Tennis Center’s hard courts trap heat, making it 10 to 20 degrees hotter right where they’re competing. “Dealing with this kind of heat is one of the toughest parts of the job,” Carlos Alcaraz said recently in London. “It’s brutal to play in, but as pros, we have to adapt as quickly as we can.”
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Continue reading...
