"It feels like we're in an oven" - Felix Auger-Aliassime gets candid on the sweltering heat at Cincinnati Open

The 2025 Cincinnati Open has seen several players struggle due to the extreme conditions, with some being unable to continue as temperatures rise. Canadian tennis star Felix Auger-Aliassime chimed in on the growing issue, following his victory over Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech on Monday.

The former World No.6 was leading Rinderknech 7-6(4) 4-2 in their third round clash, when the Frenchman retired as he was unable to continue due to the heat. Rinderknech collapsed on the court in the second set, and subsequently threw in the towel soon after.

Following their encounter, Auger-Aliassime weighed in on the matter. The 23rd seed likened the conditions to being in an oven, and advised both fans to ensure they were properly hydrated when attending matches in the heat.

"It feels like we’re in an oven, even for the fans," said Auger-Aliassime. "We’re always on the move and focused on trying to win, but the crowd is sitting for a long time, and so are our coaches. A friendly reminder to everyone: drink plenty of water, bring hats, and cool off as much as possible."

Auger-Aliassime would give credit to his French opponent for battling through his discomfort, as he revealed Rinderknech told him he was on the verge of quitting much earlier in the match.

"From my point of view, it was very sudden," said the Canadian. "We spoke later, and he told me he didn’t feel well today, right from the start, and it remained that way throughout the match. He tried to stay in the fight. For me, winning that first set was key."

Former World No.3 Ivan Ljubicic weighed in on the matter. The Croatian, who coached Roger Federer during his final stint on the ATP Tour, pondered why matches were allowed to continue in such extreme conditions.

"Nobody wins when players are fainting because of extreme conditions… which other sport does this?" wrote Ljubicic on Twitter. "Players are asked to go out day after day to compete in such conditions… has nothing to do with being fit."

However, retired American star Mardy Fish disagreed with Ljubicic, stating fitness was a key issue when determining the outcome of a match.

"I actually think it has everything to do with being fit," wrote Fish in response. “The issue is, if the conditions get to you, you can’t get subbed out. No timeouts. But make no mistake, it’s a fitness issue."