By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Picture credit score: Koji Watanabe/Getty
Holger Rune had a front-row seat to see his tennis hero, Novak Djokovic, collapse on court docket in Shanghai.
After dropping a punishing second set to Jaume Munar on the Rolex Shanghai Masters in the present day, Djokovic was floored.
The 38-year-old Serbian famous person fell flat on his again and laid out on the court docket for a number of seconds as chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani and the physio rushed out to take care of the fallen Djokovic.
The Grand Slam king arose and continued play scoring a heroic 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 triumph in two hours, 41 minutes. However that scary sight strengthened Rune’s opinion that the ATP Tour should enact a warmth rule because the Grand Slams have in place.
Djokovic and Munar began play amid sweltering humidity that soared above 80 p.c.
Rune went the gap in a 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-3 win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the present day then expressed assist for the ATP adopting a warmth coverage to guard gamers’ well being in excessive situations.
“I believe there needs to be a warmth rule like there are within the Grand Slam. I believe each participant would agree on that,” Rune mentioned. “Immediately was higher, as you say, in the present day was much less sizzling. However once more, it was much less sizzling, but when it was extra regular temperature in the present day could be very popular. I believe it was like 31 levels and really humid. However in comparison with the opposite days it was fairly brutal.
“So I believe there needs to be some form of rule. We are able to deal with a specific amount of warmth as a result of, you already know, we’re match, we’re sturdy, we’re mentally sturdy as properly, however there’s at all times a restrict. I believe it’s additionally vital to maintain your well being. We have to survive.”
World No. 2 Jannik Sinner was pressured to retire attributable to cramping in the course of the third set of his second-round loss to Tallon Griekspoor earlier this week. Djokovic himself vomited on court docket in his Shanghai win over Yannick Hanfmann.
“I believe some form of rule, you already know, not that we must always cease if it’s simply greater than this, however just like the Grand Slam, you already know, they’ve a sense on when it’s somewhat bit an excessive amount of, and we wait somewhat bit to see if it drops,” Rune mentioned.
