A French Open match was stopped on Monday when a ball girl began to desperately struggle with the intense Parisian heat.
The worrying incident occurred during 11th seed Andrey Rublev’s four-set victory over Peruvian Ignacio Buse.
With temperatures reaching as high as 91 degrees Fahrenheit, the ball girl began to stumble backwards — with the umpire immediately spotting the concerning situation.
The official climbed down from her chair and swiftly made her way over to the youngster — who was also receiving support from a lineswoman.
The ball girl sat down, before she exchanged a few words with the umpire and shook her head.
She was then helped off the court by both women as the French crowd applauded her during the difficult moment.
It was later reported that the ball girl was fine, while Rublev went on to claim a 6-3 6-7 (6) 6-3 7-5 victory.
The searing heat has been addressed by a number of tennis players at the start of this year’s French Open.
Australian Daria Kasatkina said: “I don’t remember the last time it was so hot at Roland Garros. Maybe one day. But we’re going to have it for the whole week.
“You can suddenly just get out of the bench and feel that your focus dropped. So this is a battle which you have to also win. Whoever adapts better to today’s conditions gets it.”
While four-time Roland-Garros winner Iga Swiatek added: “It is much different. Maybe it was that hot in the Olympics, but the balls were different, so I wouldn’t treat it as the same tournament.”
Canadian Gabriel Diallo also cited the heat as the reason why he retired from his clash with Aussie James Duckworth.
However, another Aussie player, Alex de Minaur, claimed following his straight-sets win over Briton Toby Samuel that he was enjoying the incredibly warm conditions.
He said: “I’ve always preferred hot and lively conditions to chilly on a clay court, because I feel like I can bring a little bit more of my all-court tennis on this type of surface.
“It’s easier to be a little bit more aggressive. The ball is jumping. I don’t necessarily have to use as much spin or heaviness, and I can let the conditions do the job for me. And it’s quite physical. I don’t mind the heat.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
