"I started having difficulty breathing" - Yoshihito Nishioka details brutal conditions due to extreme heat at US Open

Although thousands of fans have found pleasure in observing the proceedings at the 2024 US Open, the same cannot be said for some tennis players who have to compete in the blistering heat during the two-week event.

There have been several reports of players feeling unwell during their matches. Former World No.1 Victoria Azarenka overcame a bout of migraines as she struggled to defeat Frenchwoman Clara Burel in her second-round encounter. The match had to be temporarily stopped as doctors were called to examine the Belarusian, before she eventually escaped with the victory.

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Nishioka forced to retire in five-set thriller

The same cannot be said for Yoshihito Nishioka, who was unable to continue his marathon first-round match against Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic. With the match tied at two sets apiece, the Japanese star collapsed in the final set, before retiring. Nishioka later went into detail on his struggles during the match, adding he decided to withdraw from his upcoming doubles match as a precautionary measure.

"I was already feeling cramps around the 33rd point of the 4th set, and I was already cramping when I served at 5-4," wrote Nishioka on Twitter. "In the final, my waist started to spasm more than my legs, and I couldn't stand up. Then my legs started to spasm too. Then my shoulder blades, both hips, sides, and thighs started to spasm repeatedly.
"I started having difficulty breathing, but with the support of my team, I was put into a wheelchair (I asked for a stretcher but it didn't come) and carried away while still having convulsions. The convulsions didn't stop for about an hour, but I'm feeling better now. My body parts are hurting a lot, so I'm going to skip the doubles and go back to Japan."

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Other notable incidents include Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry vomiting during his second round match against compatriot Francisco Cerundolo. Etcheverry eventually prevailed in a five-set lung buster, and will face German Alexander Zverev in the third round.