Iga Swiatek Offers Helpful Tips for Players to Survive Cincinnati Conditions: “We Just Need to Survive”

When the Cincinnati sun turns center court into a furnace and players start dropping like flies, survival becomes the real game. With temperatures consistently hitting the low- to mid-30 °C (the low 90s Fahrenheit), and oppressive humidity making the courts feel like sauna rooms, many players have struggled physically. But amid the chaos, Iga Swiatek has still managed to remain standing, cruising into the semifinals without losing a single set. And now, the world No. 3 is pulling back the curtain on how to outlast conditions so severe that even seasoned pros have been staggering to the finish line.

So, when asked in her quarterfinal post-match conference how she’s managing the heat and whether global warming should shape scheduling or tournament design (in light of her previous comments), Swiatek responded: “Well, I think I don’t know if we overall should be making changes, you know, and be really considerate of global warming and trying to, you know, make it less bad as it is in terms of how we contribute to the planet. But in terms of scheduling, I don’t know. It’s a tricky question, cause I like early matches.”

Then, addressing the immediate issue of playing conditions, she said: “But for sure, I mean, this kind of heat is like something that we just need to survive, survive. And it’s not like we can’t. I think, maybe giving us like five more seconds to use the towel or to have more time to breathe because it is a bit harder, you know, would be nice. But besides that, I think we can handle it.” While sharing her tips, she also acknowledged the practical aids the tournament has provided:

“And it’s nice that we have ice towels on a bench and the AC is kind of next to us. So this is for sure helpful. Without it, I think it would be much worse. But the only thing, maybe like two more seconds to use the towel, but you know, I’ll always be the player to ask for that.” Makes sense. Because when it comes to dealing with heat, others haven’t been so lucky. 

Arthur Rinderknech collapsed on court during his match against Felix Auger-Aliassime and was forced to retire. Players like Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Luciano Darderi, and Jakub Menšík also had to retire mid-match due to heat exhaustion. Francisco Comesaña was left visibly dizzy during a match against Reilly Opelka. Across the tournament, medical staff have been frequently summoned as competitors cling to ice towels and push through draining rallies under extreme conditions.

Swiatek’s ability to adapt—and to think ahead about survival—has set her apart. Now, she faces Elena Rybakina with a 5-4 lead in their rivalry in a high-stakes semifinal. It’s a matchup that promises not just power and precision, but another battle against the brutal Cincinnati heat.