Jessica Pegula, the world No. 6 and a vocal advocate for player welfare, has entered the growing debate over tennis’s heat protocols following Emma Raducanu’s concerning retirement from her first-round match at the 2025 Wuhan Open on October 7. The American, who advanced to the quarterfinals in Beijing last week with a 3-6, 7-6(11-9), 6-0 win over Raducanu after the Brit squandered three match points, offered a pragmatic take on the sport’s handling of extreme conditions. “Players need to be prepared for intense heat—it’s part of the job,” Pegula said in a Wuhan press conference after her three-set win over Hailey Baptiste, acknowledging the “brutal” humidity but urging resilience over immediate rule changes.
The Retirement: Raducanu’s Alarming Exit
Raducanu’s Wuhan debut turned nightmarish in the 35°C (95°F) heat and 70% humidity at the Optics Valley International Tennis Centre. The British No. 30, trailing 6-1, 4-1 against Ann Li in the second set, called for a medical timeout, where trainers checked her blood pressure, temperature, and vitals. Visibly dazed and bending over between points, she shook hands with Li after 55 minutes, marking her first retirement since 2023. Li, advancing to face Ekaterina Alexandrova, expressed sympathy: “I want to wish Emma a fast recovery. It looks like she wasn’t feeling good.”
The incident, Raducanu’s second straight early Asian exit after match-point chokes in Seoul (vs. Barbora Krejcikova) and Beijing (vs. Pegula), amplified cries for reform. Temperatures felt like 37°C, with Raducanu posting a weather app screenshot the day before showing 34°C.
Pegula’s Take: “Deal with the Conditions”
Pegula, who endured her own three-set slog against Baptiste (6-4, 4-6, 6-2) in the Wuhan heat, responded to Tennis365: “Players need to deal with the conditions and have to be prepared for intense heat.” The 27-year-old, a Beijing semifinalist, acknowledged the “brutal” environment but pushed back on immediate rule overhauls, emphasizing preparation: “It’s part of the job—we train for it.” Her view contrasts with Holger Rune’s ATP rant (“You want a player to die?”) and Iga Świątek’s WTA pleas for breaks above 30°C.
Pegula’s pragmatism stems from her experience: A 2022 US Open finalist, she’s thrived in heat (2024 Paris Olympics gold) but supports review: “If it’s dangerous, we need protocols like Slams.”
Broader Debate: WTA’s Heat Crisis
Raducanu’s exit, following Jelena Ostapenko’s first-round retirement, is the latest in a string of heat-related casualties. The WTA mandates 10-minute breaks above 30°C, but Wuhan’s 35°C felt like 37°C, prompting suspension of outer courts on October 6. Świątek, after a three-setter, called it “overwhelming,” while Pegula’s “deal with it” stance highlights the divide: Preparation vs. protection.
| Player Affected | Outcome | Heat Impact |
|—————–|———|————-|
| Emma Raducanu | Retired vs. Ann Li (R1) | Dizziness; medical timeout for vitals |
| Jelena Ostapenko | Retired vs. qualifier (R1) | Heat exhaustion |
| Iga Świątek | Won vs. qualifier (R1) | “Overwhelming” three-setter |
Pegula’s Pragmatism vs. Calls for Change
Pegula’s “deal with it” echoes her 2024 Paris Olympics experience, where she won gold in doubles despite heat. “We train for this,” she said, but added nuance: “If it’s dangerous, we need protocols like Slams’ cooling breaks.” Her view contrasts Rune’s ATP plea (“You want a player to die?”) and Świątek’s WTA advocacy for mandatory pauses. The WTA’s 10-minute breaks above 30°C helped, but Wuhan’s felt-like 37°C exposed gaps, with outer courts suspended October 6.
Pegula’s stance highlights tennis’s divide: Veterans like her adapt, but younger players like Raducanu (22) face greater risks. As Wuhan rolls on, her words fuel the conversation—preparation is key, but when does heat become hazardous?
| Heat Rule Comparison | WTA | ATP | Grand Slams |
|———————-|—–|—–|————-|
| Temperature Threshold | Breaks above 30°C | No formal rule | 10-min cooling breaks above 30°C |
| Recent Impact | Ostapenko retirement | Rune’s rant, 7 retirements in Shanghai | 2024 French Open pauses |
Pegula’s insight, born from experience, reminds us: Tennis is tough, but survival shouldn’t be. For Raducanu, it’s a stark wake-up—recovery now, reform later.
