Tennis in the heat: a panel discussion

Area of Science:

• Sport Science
• Environmental Health
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Tennis is played globally in varied climates, increasing athlete exposure to environmental heat stress.
• Rising global temperatures and heat events elevate concerns for player health in tennis.

Purpose of the Study:

• Synthesize evidence and expert perspectives on heat stress in tennis.
• Focus on harmonizing policies for measuring, managing, and mitigating heat stress across governing bodies and player groups.

Main Methods:

• Panel discussion with experts in sport science, medicine, and tournament operations.
• Review of heat measurement tools, including Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) limitations and tennis-specific models.
• Discussion of evidence-based cooling strategies and policy needs for diverse athlete groups.

Main Results:

• Limitations of WBGT and emergence of tennis-specific heat stress models were discussed.
• Effective cooling strategies (ice towels, shaded recovery, cold-water immersion) were reviewed.
• Challenges in heat acclimatization and the need for medical readiness and player education were highlighted.

Conclusions:

• Harmonized heat policies, improved cooling resources, and collaboration are essential.
• Addressing heat stress is vital for safeguarding player health and performance in tennis.
• Proactive medical readiness and player education are key to managing environmental heat stress.