The Wuhan Open, regarded as a beacon of high-octane women's tennis, reportedly descended into a sweltering cauldron of concern on Tuesday as brutal heat and humidity claimed two high-profile victims. In
a game played on a roofless expanse, temperatures as high as 34°C with 67% humidity and a heat index that felt closer to 40°C, appeared as a significant hurdle for the players to perform.The incident unfolded in the games of former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and British tennis player Emma Raducanu.
Latvian tennis player Jelena Ostapenko reportedly suffered a heatstroke-induced collapse during her first-round match at the Wuhan Open, retiring against Romania’s Sorana Cîrstea while trailing 6-0, 2-1 after 45 minutes. The 28-year-old, visibly struggling in 34°C heat, summoned medics for a vitals check as trainers iced her neck. “The heat hits like a wall,” she later told reporters. “I didn’t want to quit, but my body said no.” In an emotional Instagram post garnering over, Ostapenko apologized by writing, “It was a tough day... Thank you, China, for the incredible energy. I’m truly sorry I had to finish this way. I’ll be back stronger.” Her withdrawal echoed Emma Raducanu’s earlier heat-related exit.
“It’s the worst feeling, giving up like that,” Emma Raducanu reportedly said post-match
2021 US Open Champion and 12th seed Emma Raducanu played against American Ann Li before getting defeated 6-1, 4-1 down reportedly due to dizziness. Raducanu, who started brightly with an early break, faltered as the conditions sapped her energy, her forehands appeared sailing long and her movement labored. A mid-match medical timeout, blood pressure and temperature checks flashing warning signs preceded her rueful handshake, leaving Li to advance amid sympathetic applause. “It's the worst feeling, giving up like that,” Raducanu reportedly said post-match. She further added, “The heat here is next level; you can't prepare for it fully.” The British No. 1, already enduring a turbulent Asian swing with near-misses against Jessica Pegula and Daria Kasatkina in Beijing, now faces questions over her participation in next week's Ningbo event, as she clings to a top-32 ranking for Australian Open seeding.
These retirements weren't isolated; they capped a day of distress across the WTA 1000 draw, echoing the heat-induced chaos at last week's Shanghai Masters, where players like Iga Swiatek and Mirra Andreeva reportedly voiced fury over scheduling. “It's like playing in a sauna,” lamented Andreeva after her win, while Canadian Bianca Andreescu reportedly shared a raw courtside video of sweat-soaked towels and gasping breaths. Even Swiatek, who cruised 6-1, 6-1 over Marie Bouzková in a shaded opener, didn't appear to mince words post-match. She reportedly said, “We need changes now, before someone dies on court. This isn't sustainable.”
