Maria Sharapova Avoids Heat Stroke
While here in the US we are struggling with the snow, in the Southern hemisphere, an extreme heat wave has hit Australia during the Australian Open tennis tournament. It was 108-degrees during the tennis battle between Maria Sharapova and Karin Knopp. Although the tournament has an Extreme Heat Policy, the players couldn’t benefit from it, because, under the rules, the current set had to be finished before the play was suspended.
(Image courtesy: Australia Open’s Facebook Page)
The rules seem harsh and irresponsible during these harsh conditions, especially for tennis players whose matches may last up to three hours. In this case, Sharapova and Knopp had to play for 43 minutes in the terrible heat, before they were pulled away and placed in ice baths.“No one actually knows what that number is in comparison to humidity or the actual heat. … It would be nice. I mean, I would love to know a bit more detail before — not even before I get on the court, but just in general, it’s good to know. I didn’t even know there was no play when I left the court. I mean, I had no idea.”, Mrs. Sharapova said.Sharapova was angry with the officials because they didn’t prepared an official safety policy when it was required. And she has the right to be angry, says Manhattan Orthopedic Cares specialist Dr. Armin Tehrany, because in that heat the tennis players have a serious risk of a heat stroke.
“Thank goodness Maria did not get heat stroke. With temperatures rising as high as 108 degrees and a ridiculous policy requiring some sets to be completed with little regard for player safety, we are looking at a possibly player death before the ATP takes this more seriously.”, Dr. Tehrany said.
