Tennis can be brutal, both physically and mentally. Players often talk about how back-to-back tournaments and long hours on court leave them exhausted. But grit and determination push them through. Still, what happens when the conditions turn cruel? Remember last month in London, when players complained about battling a heat wave at Wimbledon? Spectators fainted in the stands. Players were left drained by the end. Now, Cincinnati brings more chaos and scary news.

On Monday, Arthur Rinderknech walked out for his Cincinnati R32 against Felix Auger-Aliassime, determined to swing big. The 30-year-old battled hard but dropped the first in a tiebreak, 7-6(4). The second set turned tense. After Auger-Aliassime broke back for 2-2, Rinderknech headed for a towel, tried to sit—and collapsed onto his back. He rose and played on, but never won another game, retiring to put the Canadian into the last 16.

Coming into the tournament, Rinderknech defeated Nuno Borges in straight sets and took down the 11th seed Casper Ruud to make it this far. His progress was shaping up to look positive, possibly matching his Generali run of reaching the semifinals. However, the temperature in Ohio had the last word.

It’s been a theme all week. The heat has been brutal, and players have been dropping like flies. Since the tournament kicked off last week, several have struggled to finish, with on-court retirements piling up. Temperatures have soared to 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit), forcing more than a few competitors to quite literally throw in the towel.

Just a day earlier, former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev became the latest big name to crash out early. The extreme heat clearly played a part. While trailing Adam Walton 1-4 in the deciding set, the Russian stuck his head inside a fridge in a desperate bid to cool down. It was that kind of day in Cincinnati.

And Medvedev wasn’t alone. Andrey Rublev and others have openly complained about the “super hot” conditions. Ice towels were everywhere—draped around necks, wrapped over heads—but they did little to cut through the suffocating heat on court. This week in Cincinnati, survival has become just as important as the tennis itself.

Tennis stars echo Arthur Rinderknech’s troubles as heat becomes unbearable

Cincinnati’s heat is playing hardball this week, turning the 1000-level event into a battle of stamina as much as skill. With highs around 90°F (32.2°C) and thick humidity, players are sweating it out in style—ice packs, air conditioners, water showers—you name it. The tennis is fiery, but the sun might just be stealing the show.

On the WTA side, Wimbledon 2022 champ Elena Rybakina knows it firsthand. She dug deep to edge Renata Zarazua 4-6, 6-0, 7-5, clutching an ice pack between points. “In the first set, the sun hit quite badly on me. I honestly didn’t feel well, especially at the beginning of the match. Somehow I got used to it & the weather became better. But it was really tough match. Happy that I managed to get through,” she said, visibly relieved after surviving both opponent and heat.

Back on the men’s side, top seeds Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz breezed through—Sinner past Daniel Elahi Galan, Alcaraz over Damir Dzumhur—but still paid the price in sweat. Sinner leaned on a portable air conditioner, while Alcaraz wrapped up in ice towels. Ninth seed Andrey Rublev poured water over his head to stay sharp in his win over Learner Tien. For Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the weather was too much—he retired despite leading Joao Fonseca 7-6, 4-0.

With Arthur Rinderknech also out, the race to the crown is wide open. The grind is real, and the Ohio sun is holding its own as the toughest rival. If temperatures drop, things could shift—but for now, the road to the title is a blistering, no-shade sprint.