How climate change is impacting Roland Garros

For high-level athletes, consistency is the essence of the game. It's a daily routine of meticulously planned workouts, strict diets and perfectly disciplined routines, built over years of dedication. There is, however, one thing that athletes cannot control: the weather.

As a deadly, record-breaking heat wave sweeps across Europe, its impacts are felt keenly by the stars sweating it out at Roland Garros. "It's crazy to play in this climate."

According to the national meteorological service, France has recorded maximum daily temperatures above 32 degrees since Saturday - an impressive number for this time of year.

Such is the heat that this string of sunny days has been hotter than usual in July - the country's hottest month - and this week has already recorded the hottest May day in French history.

And you don't need to be a tennis analyst to understand the impact this is having on players.

During almost every interruption in the game, athletes rush to their respective benches to do what they can to cool off.

Precious time in the shade is spent under an umbrella, portable fans work non-stop and various mixtures of some type of hydration are ingested to replenish the body's electrolytes.

Players also constantly hold bags of ice to their faces and necks before they inevitably melt quickly. All this, however, is still not enough to stop the sun.

World number 16 Casper Ruud said the conditions left him "walking like a zombie" after his first round victory on May 25.

"It was a feeling of sunstroke," described Ruud after his five-set victory against Roman Safiullin.

"I had already experienced something similar a few years ago when I played in Washington, DC, and had to retire in the third set. That was the only time I had the feeling I had today in the fourth set, where I felt very dizzy at times, walking almost like a zombie."

Ruud is just one of many suffering the consequences of the heat dome that hangs over the continent.

A heat dome is a persistent high-pressure system that acts like a lid over a pan, trapping hot air and pushing it downward.

Jakub Menšík said it was "insane" that players were competing in these conditions.

The Czech star collapsed at the end of his five-set victory against Mariano Navone on Wednesday.

"It's insane to play in this weather, especially in the sun. Being there for more than four and a half hours is just insane, and even with the breaks, you don't have that much time," said Menšík after the match.

The 20-year-old stated that he started to feel unwell and, as a result, was unable to absorb electrolytes into his body.

He also suffered from cramps as the match drew to a close.

After securing victory, Menšík immediately collapsed onto the clay court.

Rescuers offered the number 26 seed a wheelchair, but he managed to leave the court under his own power.

"In this heat and in these conditions, it's insane," Menšík reiterated, suggesting a more flexible approach to the strict rules on breaks at Roland Garros.

Apart from the weather, Jannik Sinner's surprising elimination in the second round against Juan Manuel Cerúndolo has been the biggest topic of discussion of the tournament so far.

The world number 1 had physical difficulties after opening up a two-set lead and 5-1 in the third set, but was quick not to blame the weather.

"It was a difficult situation. But again, it's the sport. It was hot, but not absurdly hot. I think I was fine to play. Really, it was nothing against the heat, nothing against the weather. It was me today, but it happens", said Sinner after the match.

But Sinner was static at times during the game, unable to move from where he was batting.

It's hard to believe the heat didn't have some kind of impact.

Rising tension
And it's not just French Open players who are affected by the weather.

The equipment is also feeling the heat, and some competitors are trying unusual methods to get around it.

The most attentive noticed the current champion Coco Gauff doing something quite intriguing with her spare rackets.

The American has kept them in a Styrofoam box, apparently to protect the strings.

"String tension changes with different weather conditions," said former Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki in an Instagram comment.

"When it's hot, voltage tends to drop faster than normal. Racket bags are always exposed to direct sunlight, so she wanted extra security and put them in the fridge."

With the heatwave expected to last until Saturday, will we see more players thinking outside the box under the scorching sun?

We may also see some players taking advantage of the heat if it suits their style of play.

The balls behave differently in these conditions, bouncing noticeably higher and producing more topspin than normal.

This could benefit those with big returns and even bigger withdrawals as they look to assert their dominance in the heat.

"Absurdly crazy" weather
Players with their faces in Styrofoam boxes or holding portable fans will be the striking image of the first week at Roland Garros, and the situation could get even worse in the coming years.

Climate change is strongly influencing heat waves like the one seen at Roland Garros this week.

According to the non-profit organization Climate Central, the heat seen in Paris was at least four times more likely to occur than it would have been without climate change.

And there are no signs of slowing down.

Heat waves will continue to become increasingly intense, occur more frequently, and begin earlier in the year as the world warms due to fossil fuel pollution.

"We know beyond doubt that heatwave events like this have become more likely and more severe due to climate change," said Peter Thorne, director of the ICARUS Climate Research Center at Maynooth University in Ireland.

"But still, many of the records being set, particularly in the UK and France, are absurdly impressive," he added.

Off the court, extreme temperatures are also having deadly consequences.

There have been "seven deaths directly or indirectly linked to heat, including at least five from drowning, as well as deaths linked to extreme heat during sporting events," French government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon told French television network TF1.

On Sunday, a 53-year-old man died during a race in Paris and a woman died at a Hyrox sporting event in the city of Lyon, according to the Associated Press, citing local media reports.

It has not yet been confirmed whether the deaths were heat-related, but French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari appeared to draw a link, saying the deaths were "a stark reminder that playing sports in extreme heat requires absolute vigilance."

If this is what the weather is like in May, what will it be like for players in June and July, with Wimbledon just around the corner?

And if things tend to get worse as time goes on, what's next for fans and athletes?

Tennis stars threaten boycott over higher prize pool at Roland Garros

Source: CNN