Heat finally got a rulebook instead of just sweat and a towel.
The ATP announced an extreme heat policy that takes effect in 2026, bringing the men’s tour closer to the WTA and other sports that already use scientific measures to manage dangerous conditions.
What The New Rule Actually Does
The policy uses the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature metric to estimate heat stress and provides concrete triggers for action rather than leaving calls to local judgment alone.
When the WBGT reaches 30.1 degrees Celsius in one of the opening two sets of a best-of-three match, either player can request a cooling break of up to ten minutes under ATP medical supervision.
If conditions worsen and the WBGT tops 32.2 degrees Celsius, play will be suspended entirely until conditions improve and it is safe to resume competition.
Why Players Pushed For This
Calls for a clearer policy came after several brutal matches in Shanghai and elsewhere where humidity and heat made play dangerous and unpredictable for athletes.
Players suffered: defending champion Jannik Sinner stopped a match because of severe leg cramps and Novak Djokovic vomited during a victory, while humidity crept past 80% and left competitors pleading for relief.
The visceral image that helped push reform was Holger Rune asking, “Do you want a player to die on court?” and other stars describing conditions as brutal under relentless humidity and sun.
Do you want a player to die on court?
Holger Rune
How This Fits Into Tennis And Climate Trends
The move aligns the men’s circuit with a WTA rule that has been around since 1992 and follows broader sporting precedent for protecting competitors in extreme heat.
Grand Slam events retain their own policies, with the U.S. Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon using WBGT-style guidance, while the Australian Open relies on a different Heat Stress Scale.
The ATP said the change is meant to safeguard player health and to make conditions safer for spectators, officials, ball kids and tournament staff, not just the athletes sweating it out on center court.
Under the new rules, players can use the breaks to change clothing, rehydrate, receive supervised cooling and even get coaching, all under ATP medical oversight and with a focus on recovery rather than gamesmanship.
Tournaments will need reliable WBGT monitoring and clear protocols, so organisers must plan equipment, staffing and scheduling changes well before the 2026 roll-out to avoid chaos during heat spikes.
The change also arrives against a worrying climate backdrop, with reports saying the planet is on track to log its second hottest year on record in 2025, adding urgency to practical protections for outdoor sports.
Expect smarter scheduling, more shade and better medical presence at events that routinely flirt with extreme conditions, and perhaps a few more midday match delays that will test broadcasters and fans alike.
In short, the ATP has moved from ad hoc judgments by on-site supervisors to a structured, medically oriented approach intended to protect players and everyone who works a tennis event.
Whatever your view of mid-match drama, the new policy makes clear that player safety is no longer optional, and that heat will be treated as a measurable, manageable factor rather than mere bad luck.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
