By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, October 16, 2025
Photo credit: Graham Denholm/Getty
Extreme conditions can create health hazards for players on the pro circuit.
Now, some stars are calling out the ATP to enact changes and protect the health of players.
Speaking to journalist Nicholas Albek of Action Network at this week’s Stockholm Open, Matteo Berrettini, Casper Ruud and Holger Rune each identified an issue that can create problems for players. All three stars called on the ATP to take action. Read Nicholas Albek’s complete interview on Action Network here.
Citing extreme heat players faced during the recent Asian swing, Berrettini said the Tour must emulate the Grand Slams and adopt an extreme heat policy to protect players.
Former Wimbledon finalist Berrettini said the Asian swing invoked “conditions I have never experienced before.”
“Most of the people don`t get how different it is with 5 degrees less or more. I have to say that in this Asian swing, I experienced some conditions I have never experienced before,” Berrettini told Nicholas Albek. “Hangzhou was even warmer than Shanghai but the tournament was smaller so nobody noticed but it was really, really warm. The first few days I couldn`t even believe it. Luckily, they had a roof there and it was raining a lot so they could close the roof.”
“But when the conditions are that extreme, we have to do something like the Slams did, you know about a heat rule or something like that. You don`t want the players to be injured or struggle like that, because at the end of the season, health comes first. But the show also means something, and if the players are not feeling well and retire, it`s not good. You don`t want that.”
“I am sure they (ATP) are going to take care of it, but now I have to focus on playing indoors.”
Holger Rune concurred with Berrettini pointing out conditions at the recent Rolex Shanghai Masters featured sweltering conditions with humidity over 80 percent that left most players dripping sweat, while some, like Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic, vomited on court.
“”I think there should be a heat rule like there are in the Grand Slam. I think every player would agree on that,” Rune said. “I think it was like 31 degrees and very humid. But compared to the other days it was pretty brutal.
“So I think there should be some kind of rule. We can handle a certain amount of heat because, you know, we are fit, we’re strong, we’re mentally strong as well, but there’s always a limit. I think it’s also important to take care of your health. We need to survive.”
In Stockholm, Rune told Nicholas Albek the long season can be debilitating for some players. Rune said while some, including Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev, have spoken out about slower court conditions in recent weeks, he believes slower, heavier tennis balls are actually a bigger issue for players, who can struggle to end points.
“The calendar is definitely long, I won’t hide that, but we can actually choose whether we want to play or not. If you do well, you can skip a few tournaments,” Rune told Nicholas Albek. “The only thing I’m not so happy about is that more ATP 500 tournaments have become mandatory. I think that’s a bit unnecessary.”
“But I don’t think there are any players who don’t want to play all the Masters 1000 or Grand Slam tournaments. If you don’t want to play the 250 or 50 tournaments, then you can just skip them, even though it has become a bit harder with the mandatory 500 tournaments. The season is long, but it’s also amazing, because I’ve dreamed my whole life of playing these tournaments. We should also remember to be grateful for having achieved our dream.”
“I actually think it’s more the balls than the court that have become slower. I’m sure something changed after the pandemic. The materials in the balls have changed. I’ve talked to many current and former players about that too.”
Expanding ATP Masters 1000 events to two weeks can take both a physical and financial cost to players. Casper Ruud, like former ATP Player Council President Djokovic, opposes the Tour expanding its Masters 1000 tournaments to two week.
Two-time French Open finalist Ruud suggested a compromise solution may not be imminent because “at the end of the day, ATP drags one way and we drag the other way.”
“Personally, I am not the biggest fan of the two week Masters. It is also a question of more travel and more time away from your home. I think Monte Carlo and Paris are pretty good examples of how quick and intense a Masters 1000 can be and that it can be fun.”
“I remember we had Khachanov – Medvedev in the first round of Monte Carlo. You won`t see that in the first round anywhere else except for maybe Paris. I am a fan of tennis and from that point of view, because I watch a lot of tennis as a fan, it is way more fun when it is more intense with good first round matches.”
“But it is a theory and their plan is that it can grow the game, and for our income in terms of prize money and all things. I can understand the vision, but not many players including myself have been a fan of it so far.”
“But if you lose the first or second round of Indian Wells and we have Miami in two weeks, it is just two weeks of expenses with living and eating and salary for your team. So, of course, if you can play these two tournaments over three weeks instead of four, there will be less expenses.”
“But you know, we are compensated with a new bonus pool and profit sharing, but that also requires that you play. It is kind of a giving take. At the end of the day ATP drags one way and we drag the other way. There are good things and bad things. It just feels longer than it needs to be.”
