Remember the blazing battles players endured under the scorching sun at the US Open? The first week’s cool, breezy afternoons soon gave way to fiery days and humid nights that nearly brought even the fittest athletes to their knees. As one commentator aptly noted during the Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alex de Minaur clash, “I don’t think the players can see it that easily. It’s definitely didn’t easy like this if they close the roof about 15%. Right now, there will be no problem.” Yet, while the US Open has ended and the tour nears its close, chaos returned on the juniors circuit, as one ATP player’s bizarre mid-match request forced the umpire to call a supervisor for sun protection.

At the Challenger Brisbane Open, chaos unfolded under the blazing sun when Indian prodigy Aryan Shah faced Aussie Marc Polmans in a tense junior ATP Challenger clash. After dominating the first set 6-1, Shah found himself struggling in the second at 3-3, battling not just his opponent but the relentless glare above.

In a moment that left everyone stunned, he suddenly asked the umpire if he had a spare pair of sunglasses after resorting to underarm serves during game five. The umpire, confused by Shah’s abrupt change in rhythm, called for the supervisor as the young Indian pleaded, “it is impossible to serve.” Moments later, he returned to normal serving, but the moment had already stolen the spotlight.

(More to come…)