Jannik Sinner has been one of a host of retirements at the Shanghai Masters this week.
Sinner was unable to complete his match against Tallon Griekspoor, where he retired in the third set and subsequently conceded his Shanghai Masters title defence.
The heat has been playing havoc in China this week, and has even seen some scary scenes in Novak Djokovic’s matches.
Now, the former coach of Coco Gauff has given his say on the situation, which actually could have negatively impacted Sinner.
Brad Gilbert makes claim that players should not receive treatment for cramp
Sinner’s retirement in Shanghai came as a result of cramping, with the four-time Grand Slam champion struggling to even walk before he retired from the match.
This appeared to be related to the scorching heat and humidity in China, with the ATP not having a heat rule like the WTA Tour.
While former coach of Gauff, Brad Gilbert, appears to be onboard with the heat rule, one thing he is not keen on is players being able to receive treatment for cramping.
As it is thought to be as a result of conditioning, players are unable to take a medical timeout for cramp, but like Sinner can receive treatment in the allotted time for the change of ends.
That was not the only change Gilbert suggested tennis needs, as he also pointed to the length of medical timeouts and players requesting treatment before their opponent serves.
Gilbert wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter), “I know the @atptour is going to look at new heat rules for 26, one rule that should definitely be revisited there should be no treatment allowed for cramps not even on changeovers, also need to look at on opponent serve, also the time length of the MTO [medical timeout] is way too long.”
He added in a follow-up social media post, “Cramps is earned right always was and should remain on @atptour that way, I totally understand changing some the heat rules policy before a match has started.”
Some tennis fans disagree with Brad Gilbert’s claims in concern for players
This is not the first time that Gilbert has called for this rule to change, but not everyone is on board with the American.
Pointing out some of the concerning scenes that players have been in at the Shanghai Masters, some fans jumped to the defence of allowing players to receive treatment for cramp.
One person wrote in response to Gilbert, “Oh maybe we should wait for someone to be hospitalised or worse during the middle of a match like we’ve seen in other sports, then it will be all ‘oh should have changed things up’. Being a pro doesn’t make someone immune to a stifling heat and humidity combo.”
Someone else said, “So your solutions to the situation are… To make them suffer more?”
Another social media user actually went the complete other way to Gilbert and suggested that players should even be allowed a medical timeout for cramping.
“I’ve never understood what’s the rationale for singling out cramps as the one condition players can not ask an MTO for.”
However, there were also some who were in agreement with Gilbert, including former top 10 player Tim Mayotte.
Mayotte simply wrote, “Right on Brad!”
With the 2025 season now in its latter stages it seems unlikely that there is going to be any changes on these rules until next year.
Unfortunately for players competing in Shanghai, that means that they will not have a heat rule to manage the mid-thirty degrees Celsius conditions (86 degrees Fahrenheit).
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