Arabic version: جاكوب مينسيك ينهار بعد مباراة مرهقة في بطولة فرنسا المفتوحة

Jakub Mensik collapsed on the court following a strenuous second-round victory at the French Open, where temperatures soared into the mid-30s Celsius. The 20-year-old Czech player defeated Argentina’s Mariano Navone after a marathon match lasting four hours and 41 minutes, with a final score of 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (13-11).

According to BBC News, Mensik expressed that his body “just turned off” after the emotionally and physically taxing match. He struggled to move and needed eight match points to secure his win. After collapsing, medical staff attended to him, applying ice packs to help alleviate the heat stress.

Mensik eventually managed to walk off the court but required a wheelchair for transport to the locker room. Despite the ordeal, he later reported that he had undergone recovery sessions, preparing for his upcoming match against eighth seed Alex de Minaur on Friday.

The extreme heat has raised concerns among players, with some, like three-time champion Novak Djokovic, suggesting that match schedules should be adjusted to avoid the hottest parts of the day. French Open organizers monitor temperature conditions closely and have protocols in place to introduce breaks or suspend matches if necessary. However, no matches have ever been halted due to heat.

Players like Marta Kostyuk and Casper Ruud have also commented on the challenging conditions, with Ruud expressing fears of heat stroke after his match. Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev benefited from playing in cooler evening temperatures, securing a comfortable win in his match.

As the tournament progresses, the impact of the heatwave on player performance and health remains a pressing issue at Roland Garros.