ATP Unveils Comprehensive Heat Policy for Player Welfare Starting 2026

The ATP Tour is set to implement an innovative heat policy starting in 2026, designed to safeguard players under extreme weather conditions. This decision follows a series of retirements at the Shanghai Masters attributed to intense heat and humidity. The policy will utilize the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index, a globally recognized measurement of heat stress, to determine when protective measures should be enacted.

In matches, if the WBGT reaches 30.1°C (86.18°F) during the initial two sets of a best-of-three game, players will be permitted to request a 10-minute cooling break after the second set, during which they can hydrate, change attire, shower, and receive guidance under the supervision of ATP medical staff. If the WBGT surpasses 32.2°C, all play will be halted.

The ATP emphasized that this policy is aimed at enhancing the safety of players, officials, ball kids, and spectators alike. In 2025, several noteworthy events underscored the necessity for these regulations, including Jannik Sinner's retirement in Shanghai due to cramps, Novak Djokovic experiencing vomiting during a match, and Holger Rune expressing concerns about extreme conditions. Similar incidents, like Arthur Rinderknech collapsing in Cincinnati, further pointed to the urgent need for change.

Under the previous system, decisions about play suspension due to extreme weather were managed by an ATP supervisor in collaboration with local authorities. The new guidelines will bring ATP regulations in line with those of the WTA and Grand Slam events, which already permit longer breaks and match suspensions under such conditions.

Various professional sports including football, Formula One, and cycling have enacted formal policies for dealing with extreme weather. The ATP anticipates that this new regulation will foster a safer, more consistent atmosphere at tournaments across the globe.