French Open Continues Under Heat Wave as Official Policy Remains Unactivated
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The French Open is proceeding through an unprecedented heat wave, with temperatures reaching 32 degrees Celsius (90 Fahrenheit) for all five days of the tournament so far. The tournament's official extreme weather policy, which would mandate cooling breaks or suspensions, has not been activated this week, leading players like Jannik Sinner to use personal methods to cope with the conditions.
Facts First
- The French Open is experiencing an unprecedented heat wave, with temperatures hitting 32°C (90°F) for five consecutive days.
- The tournament's extreme weather policy has not been activated, despite thresholds for cooling breaks and suspensions being defined.
- Players are managing the heat individually, with Jannik Sinner using ice to cool himself during a match where temperatures rose from 29°C to 32°C.
- The policy allows for 10-minute cooling breaks if the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) reaches 30.1°C, and play suspension if it hits 32.2°C.
- Two main courts have retractable roofs, but the French Open policy does not mention using them for heat management.
What Happened
The French Open in Paris has been played under an unprecedented heat wave, with daily temperatures reaching 32 degrees Celsius (90 Fahrenheit). Despite this, the tournament's official extreme weather policy has not been activated. During a second-round match on Thursday, May 28, 2026, Italy's Jannik Sinner used ice to cool himself as the temperature rose from 29 to 32 degrees Celsius. The policy states that if the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) reaches 30.1 degrees Celsius, 10-minute cooling breaks can be added, and if it hits 32.2 degrees Celsius, play is suspended.
Why this Matters to You
If you are a fan watching the tournament, the conditions may affect player performance and the quality of matches as athletes contend with extreme heat without mandated breaks. For players and tournament organizers, the situation highlights a gap between established policy and on-the-ground conditions, which could lead to discussions about athlete welfare and rule enforcement in future events.
What's Next
The tournament will likely continue under close scrutiny of the weather and the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature readings. If the WBGT reaches the defined thresholds, the policy may finally be activated, introducing scheduled cooling breaks or suspending play. The ongoing heat wave could prompt a review of the policy after the tournament, potentially considering the use of the available retractable roofs on the main courts for heat management, a measure other Grand Slams like the Australian Open already employ.