French Open star issues furious statement after collapsing on court as Djokovic suggests change - 'It's insane'

Czech tennis star Jakub Mensik has described the decision to continue playing at the French Open as “insane”, as concerns have been raised due to the soaring temperatures in the French capital.

On Wednesday (May 27), Mensik collapsed on court and had to make his way back to the locker room in a wheelchair after experiencing cramp following his 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (11) win over Argentina’s Mariano Navone in the second round of the French Open.

Courtside readings clocked temperatures of up to 32 degrees Celsius, which caused Mensik to fall ill, meaning he could not take on essential fluids and electrolytes.

In the moments after securing victory, the 20-year-old collapsed onto the clay beneath him before his opponent attempted to help him to his feet but failed, as Mensik appeared unable to move.

He was quickly attended to by medical staff, who placed ice packs on his body in an attempt to lower his temperature as he lay on the ground for several minutes.

Despite later managing to get to his feet, the youngster was taken to the locker room in a wheelchair.

'It's insane' - Mensik criticises French Open organisers

“It’s insane to play in this weather and especially in front of the sun,” Mensik said.

“To be there for more than four and a half hours, that’s just insane, and even with the breaks you don’t have that much time. The ball boy cannot bring you a towel during the changeover. You have just one minute, which obviously before, when you sit, it’s already just 30 seconds. So there is not that much time to cool yourself down.”

The starlet then went on to suggest he should have been allowed more time to recover between points, despite ATP rules only allowing medical time-outs for injuries rather than exhaustion or cramp, which is considered a fitness issue.

He added: “Here it’s super-strict, which I totally respect, but obviously in this heat and in these conditions it’s insane. The rules are rules, of course, but normally when a spectator watches, they will be like: ‘OK, give him mercy, five more seconds, 10 more seconds,’ which obviously I didn’t have. I [received a warning and] lost my first serve because of that.”

Mensik faces Alex de Minaur in the third round on Friday (May 29).

Djokovic suggests solution

Novak Djokovic, who progressed to the third round with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (7), 6-3 win over France’s Valentin Royer, also offered his thoughts on the conditions, with the 24-time Grand Slam winner playing for almost four hours.

“When you play a three-and-a-half-hour match on clay, it’s long and very exhausting,” he said. “At least in my opinion. So physically I spent quite a bit of energy today on a very hot day. Very challenging conditions. It was obviously my fault I didn’t finish in straight sets, because I was a break up twice in the third. [I was] just too passive on those points, and he took his chances, and he got the crowd support he was looking for.”

Djokovic faces Brazil’s João Fonseca in the third round.

The veteran also put forward the idea of moving matches to later in the day when temperatures are typically lower.

“Is that ideal to go over midnight? Yeah, it’s not,” he added. “But if you have certain days that you have extreme heat and conditions, then maybe that’s something to consider.”

What do French Open rules say?

ATP rules on cramp state: “A player may receive treatment for muscle cramping only during the time allotted for change of ends and/or set breaks. Players may not receive a medical timeout for muscle cramping. In cases where there is doubt about whether the player suffers from an acute medical condition, non-acute medical condition inclusive of muscle cramping, or non-treatable medical condition, the decision of the sports physiotherapist, in conjunction with the Tournament Doctor, if appropriate, is final.

“If the sports physiotherapist believes that the player has heat illness, and if muscle cramping is one of the manifestations of heat illness, then the muscle cramping may only be treated as part of the recommended treatment by the Sports Physiotherapist for the heat illness condition.”