The ATP, the entity that manages the men’s professional tennis circuit, announced this Tuesday (16) the introduction of a rule for protection against extreme heat from the new 2026 season, following criticism of it during recent tournaments.
“To strengthen player protection in extreme conditions,” tennis players will now be able to request a ten-minute break during the third set to cool down if the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index, which takes into account temperature, humidity and wind, reaches 30.1 during the first two sets,” explained the ATP.
The match will be stopped if this index exceeds 32.2.
The WTA, the entity which governs the women’s tennis circuit, had already put in place regulations in this area.
The objective of the new rule approved by the ATP is to “protect the health of players” but also to “improve conditions for spectators, referees, ball boys and the organizing team” of tournaments.
Until then, decisions regarding playing conditions related to weather and heat were the responsibility of the tournament supervisor, in consultation with medical teams and local organizers.
During 2025, heat has made the news several times during the tennis season.
“Do you want a player to die on the field?” » asked Dane Holger Rune in October at the tournament in Shanghai, China, where temperatures exceeded 30 degrees Celsius with 80% humidity.
The 2026 ATP season begins on January 2 in Australia with the United Cup, a tournament for national teams, and the first individual events are scheduled from January 5 in Brisbane, Australia, and Hong Kong.
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