ATP, new rules against the heat: covered courts, cooling breaks, suspensions

The excessive heat in Cincinnati and Shanghai, a tournament plagued by withdrawals and culminating with that of Jannik Sinner, had created quite a few discussions within the ATP, with a clear signal: an update to the regulations is urgently needed. Especially regarding the “heat policy”, already present with decisive measures in the Slams, especially the Australian Open, and in the WTA regulations. However, there was no precise legislation for the association that governs men’s tennis, which could ensure that the matches were held in the best possible way. And the ATP has finally moved, with implementations that from 2026 could positively change the situation.

Suspension

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Of the rules introduced, the main one concerns the possibility of suspending matches on external fields in the event of extreme temperatures. Measure that will be triggered when the WBGT scale (thermal stress index that combines temperature, humidity and solar radiation) reaches or exceeds 32.2° for more than 15 minutes. And the suspension will apply to all matches currently involved. Obviously the game will be stopped upon completion of the game or any tie-break in progress; and at that point the match could only resume when the WBGT index drops below 30.5° for twenty minutes.

Indoor and outdoor

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In the days in Shanghai there was much discussion about the possibility of closing the roof to beat the heat and humidity. In the new heat policy there is a specifically dedicated rule, which will take into account two factors: reaching at least 32° on the WBGT scale or pitch surface temperature equal to 45°. In these cases, at the first change of court or at the end of a set, the roof, if present, will be closed. Therefore determining the transition to indoor until the end of the match. A solution that can help keep the spectacle high in the final days of tournaments, where play is only on the main courts (those with a roof).

Break

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The other measure in place concerns the introduction of the cooling break in the event of reaching 30.1° on the scale during the first two sets (at ATP level only the best of three is played), which can be requested by the players. The break will obviously apply to both, lasting 10 minutes between the second and third sets; with the concession of showering and coaching, as well as more rest and a change of clothing. During this time period, the ATP medical staff will also be able to check the hydration conditions and body temperature of the protagonists. In doubles there will not be a formal stoppage, but “90 seconds of extra hydration” will be allowed if the WBGT scale is equal to or above 31°.

Need

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As in the case of the adjustment of the schedules to avoid the matches ending late at night after the withdrawal from Paris Bercy 2023 before the round of 16, once again Sinner was the protagonist of a situation (to which is also added the withdrawal in the final in Cincinnati against Alcaraz) which pushed the ATP to reflect. And, above all, to take action. We cannot fight the climate but, following the example of the WTA and the Slam tournaments, we can introduce rules that allow players not to reach the final stages exhausted and without the risk of withdrawals and excessive complaints during the tournaments. In the first months of 2026, with the circuit busy in the middle of the Australian summer preparing for the Australian Open, the effectiveness of these new rules will already be verified.