Heat Rule in Men's Tennis?
The scorching heat in New York City today at the 2010 U.S. Open raised the question of why there is a ”heat rule” in women’s tennis, but not one in men’s tennis? In women’s tennis, there is a formula that calculates whether there are “excessive heat” conditions
based on the air temperature, humidity, sun, etc. If there are considered to be extreme heat conditions, then the women are allowed to take a ten minute bathroom break after the second set if the match is going into a third set.
On the men’s tour, the players slog through five set matches, even when there is no tie-breaker, e.g. at Wimbledon, but they can never take a break during a match even if it’s a super hot day. At the same time, the men’s tour changed the rules this year regarding cramping. Male players are no longer allowed to take a medical time-out solely for cramps. If the trainer or tournament doctor decides that the player is cramping, then a player can be treated during two full changeovers or set breaks, but the player is not allowed to receive a three minute medical timeout. However, “heat illness”, which has different symptoms, will be treated.
When they run a marathon, men and women run the same race, under the same rules and condition, albeit in the slightly different times. In professional tennis, it seems that men should have the same option as the women, i.e. a ten minute break after the third set, in a three out of five set match. Conditioning will still play a part in the outcome of the match, but one hopes that the quality of the tennis will rise in grueling five set matches.
On the men’s tour, the players slog through five set matches, even when there is no tie-breaker, e.g. at Wimbledon, but they can never take a break during a match even if it’s a super hot day. At the same time, the men’s tour changed the rules this year regarding cramping. Male players are no longer allowed to take a medical time-out solely for cramps. If the trainer or tournament doctor decides that the player is cramping, then a player can be treated during two full changeovers or set breaks, but the player is not allowed to receive a three minute medical timeout. However, “heat illness”, which has different symptoms, will be treated.
When they run a marathon, men and women run the same race, under the same rules and condition, albeit in the slightly different times. In professional tennis, it seems that men should have the same option as the women, i.e. a ten minute break after the third set, in a three out of five set match. Conditioning will still play a part in the outcome of the match, but one hopes that the quality of the tennis will rise in grueling five set matches.
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