Respected tennis commentator Jonathan Overend has warned that the professional game is reaching “breaking point,” after a series of players - including Emma Raducanu - were forced to retire or withdraw from tournaments in Asia amid extreme heat and humidity.
His remarks came after Raducanu abandoned her opening match at the Wuhan Open against Ann Li, visibly struggling to cope with the punishing conditions.
Overend described the British No 1’s retirement as a major setback but said her decision was entirely understandable given the brutal climate.
“That is a real setback after some progress made and some tough challenges posed to some very good players in Asia,” he said.
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“The stats are pretty irrelevant in circumstances like that.
“So rest up, get yourself better. This is a grind and it is brutal out in Asia at the moment with the temperatures and humidity, and it can strike anybody at any time.
“We’ve seen better players than Emma Raducanu get struck down by heat illness over the last couple of weeks.
“It’s a major talking point and a major problem for the sport moving forward.”
Respected tennis commentator Jonathan Overend has warned that the professional game is reaching “breaking point,” after a series of players - including Emma Raducanu - were forced to retire or withdraw from tournaments in Asia amid extreme heat and humidity
|REUTERS
Raducanu, who was trailing 6-1, 4-1 to Li when she called it quits, appeared dizzy and distressed before retiring mid-match.
The decision makes her one of several high-profile names to succumb to the conditions in recent days.
Novak Djokovic, Holger Rune, and Jannik Sinner all struggled in similar circumstances during the Shanghai Masters, with Sinner forced to retire from his opening match due to cramp and Djokovic vomiting on court.
Djokovic later described the situation as “brutal,” saying, “It’s the same for every player out on the court, but it’s brutal when you have over 80 per cent humidity day after day.
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Raducanu having her blood pressure checked when down 1-6, 1-4* to Li.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) October 7, 2025
Looks totally off today... pic.twitter.com/wYoFalhoS2
“Particularly for the guys playing during the day with the sun — it’s even more brutal.”
Temperatures across parts of China have hovered around 30 degrees Celsius with suffocating humidity levels nearing 80 per cent.
The oppressive conditions have triggered a spate of retirements and withdrawals, including from Tomas Machac, Casper Ruud, David Goffin, Hamad Medjedovic, Terence Atmane and Wu Yibing.
Overend said that while extreme weather is an immediate issue, the deeper problem lies in the relentless global tennis calendar.
“In the last 24 hours we’ve seen Taylor Fritz say, ‘I’ve hit a wall, I need to take a time out,’” he said.
“We’ve seen Daria Kasatkina say, ‘I am mentally shot this season, I can’t do it anymore.’
“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that tennis this week feels like it’s at breaking point.
“We’ve got Sinner limping with cramp, Medvedev struggling in the last tournament, and so many withdrawals in Shanghai. What are we doing as a sport? This is not sustainable.”
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Ann Li proceeded to the next round of the Wuhan Open following Emma Raducanu's withdrawal
|REUTERS
His comments echo growing concerns voiced by top players such as Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff, who have repeatedly criticised the packed schedule and lack of rest between tournaments.
Many fear that the combination of travel, climate extremes and workload could push more players toward injury or burnout.
For Raducanu, the timing is particularly unfortunate.
The 22-year-old has shown glimpses of improvement this year but remains hampered by recurring physical challenges.
Her retirement in Wuhan will renew scrutiny of how players are being asked to cope with increasingly demanding conditions on a global circuit that rarely pauses.
With rising temperatures, player exhaustion and growing discontent within the locker room, Overend’s warning will resonate across the sport.
He concluded: “What we’re seeing right now - from the withdrawals to the illnesses - isn’t just bad luck. It’s a sign that the sport needs to take a hard look at itself before the breaking point becomes irreversible.”