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French Open highlights challenges of five-set tennis amid climate change

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 2, 2026, 6:04 PM

Last updated Jun 2, 2026

French Open highlights challenges of five-set tennis amid climate change

Summary

The 2026 French Open is underway, showcasing the enduring challenges of five-set tennis as extreme heat impacts player performance. Reports of players like Casper Ruud feeling like 'zombies' and Jakub Menšík collapse during matches raise concerns about the sustainability of this format. The ongoing tournament occurs in record-breaking spring temperatures, prompting discussions on whether men's tennis should adopt a three-set format like women’s tennis. Calls for increased shade and player protection are becoming more urgent as climate change severely affects match conditions.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•2026 French Open features extreme heat affecting players' health.
•High temperatures prompt calls to reconsider five-set match format.
•Casper Ruud and Jakub Menšík express difficulties during matches.
•Experts highlight increasing risks due to climate change in tennis.

Latest Updates

6:04 PMYahoo Sports — Can Five-Set Tennis Survive In The Age of Climate Change?

What they're saying

"
Five-set tennis is not just the pinnacle of tennis, but arguably the pinnacle of all sports. Nevertheless, because of its uniquely demanding nature, it has long faced threats to its existence. Now, as the first week of the 2026 French Open has demonstrated, it faces a threat to its survival from perhaps the most powerful …
— Yahoo Sports

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