During the third round of the Cincinnati Open, French tennis player Arthur Rinderknech collapsed on the court while competing against Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, as temperatures exceeded 30 degrees Celsius. Rinderknech, who was trailing at 7-6(4), 4-2, struggled to continue and ultimately withdrew from the match.
Despite losing the first set, Rinderknech managed to secure a break early in the second set. However, after Auger-Aliassime levelled the score at 2-2, Rinderknech attempted to retrieve a towel but collapsed as he tried to sit down. This prompted concern, with the umpire inquiring about his well-being, and Auger-Aliassime rushing to provide assistance. Medical personnel subsequently entered the court to attend to Rinderknech, who remained on the ground as commentators remarked on the intense conditions, noting, “It’s really difficult to see. These are such tough conditions.”
Despite the medical attention, Rinderknech could not regain his composure to continue and ultimately forfeited the match, allowing Auger-Aliassime to advance to the round of 16. The extreme heat was a significant issue during the tournament, with players like Daniil Medvedev also expressing frustration over the conditions following his loss to Australian Adam Walton. Medvedev was overheard saying, “one player gonna die then we gonna see,” highlighting concerns regarding player safety in the sweltering temperatures.
Additionally, play at the tournament faced further disruptions due to a power outage, resulting in lost broadcasts and matches being suspended. With the automated electronic line calling system integral to ATP Tour events, the absence of power rendered it unusable while the outages lasted, ultimately leading to the halting of matches.