"I’ve never experienced anything like it": Matteo Berrettini calls for 'heat rule' on ATP Tour after grueling Asian Swing

Matteo Berrettini raised concerns about the intense heat players faced during the Asian swing and proposed that the ATP Tour implement a "heat rule," similar to what Grand Slams have. The Italian returned to the courts after nearly three months out with an injury at the ATP 250 Hangzhou Open and took the opportunity to play in several tournaments before the end of the year.

The former Wimbledon finalist also played in the Tokyo Open and Shanghai Masters, finishing his stint in Asia with a 1-3 record; his only win came in Japan against Jaume Munar. Berrettini returned this week at the Stockholm Open and is not taking a break, trying to accumulate the largest possible number of matches and points in the final part of the season.

The former world No. 6 missed a significant portion of the season due to injuries, and although he was inside the top 30 a few months ago, he ended up losing his ranking, currently sitting at world No. 61. This week in Stockholm, he debuted with a win over Giulio Zeppieri in an all-Italian clash (6-4, 6-2) but was defeated in the second round by the fourth seed, Ugo Humbert (6-7, 3-6).

The Italian was pleased to return to European tournaments, especially an indoor event like the Stockholm Open. Berrettini addressed one of the most talked-about issues during the Asian swing: the complicated Asian climate, which caused several players physical problems during the tournaments.

"During the Asian swing, I experienced conditions I’ve never experienced in the past," Berrettini commented at a press conference during his time in Sweden. "Hangzhou was actually hotter than Shanghai, but the tournament was smaller, so nobody knew about it. It was so hot in the first days, we couldn’t believe it. Luckily, they had a roof, and it was raining a lot."

"When conditions are that extreme, we have to do what the Grand Slams did and introduce a heat rule or something like that," the 2021 Wimbledon runner-up added. "We don’t want players getting injured or struggling like that. In the end, health comes first, but also the show, and if players don’t feel well, they retire. We don’t want that. Most people don’t even understand how different it can be to play even in the same tournament with just 5 degrees less or more."

Berrettini still has a couple of tournaments to play before the end of the season, seeking to earn points after spending several months out of competition. This year, he missed two Masters 1000 tournaments, as well as Roland Garros and the US Open. The Italian did not have major campaigns, with his best tournament being the Miami Open, where he reached the quarterfinals before falling to Taylor Fritz.

The 29-year-old star still has two commitments left: next week he will play the ATP 500 Vienna Open, a tournament where he received a wildcard and will feature four top-10 players, led by Jannik Sinner. Afterward, he will be part of the qualification draw for the Paris Masters, where his current ranking did not secure him a direct entry.