'Do you want a player to die?' Shanghai sauna creates carnage as Djokovic requires medical attention

Novak Djokovic could barely move after losing the second set against Jaume Munar. (Getty/Hu Chengwei)

Another day of drama eventuated in China on Tuesday, with Novak Djokovic getting through his match despite collapsing to the ground and requiring a medical timeout.

Down set point against Spain's Jaume Munar in the second set, Djokovic lost a mammoth rally as he fell to the ground in exhaustion.

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With temperatures reaching around 30 degrees and the humidity hitting 80 per cent, the 38-year-old took a medical timeout as the physio attended to him.

In the end, Djokovic survived 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, but his path to the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals was far from straightforward.

"It's the same for every player out on the court, but it's brutal," Djokovic said after his gruelling win.

"It's brutal when you have over 80 per cent of humidity day after day, particularly for the guys when they're playing during the day with heat, with sun, it's even more brutal."

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Danish star Holger Rune was also locked in a tense three-set battle against big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, but found a way to escape.

During his match, Rune complained to the chair umpire: "Do you want a player to die on court?"

"We can handle a certain amount of heat, because we're strong, and mentally strong as well, but there is always a limit," the former world No.4 told the media post-match.

Conditions were also unideal at the Wuhan Open, a WTA 1000 event, as six-time major champion Iga Świątek expressing her concern.

"I hope the other matches will be scheduled at a time where girls can compete, rather than just die on the court," she said after sweeping aside Marie Bouzková 6-1, 6-1.

It has been a period of withdrawals and mid-match retirements — most notably world No.2 Jannik Sinner, who needed help from the physio to walk off court due to severe cramp.

In response, the ATP is considering introducing a heat policy to put player safety first.

"This remains under active review and additional measures including the implementation of an official heat policy are currently being evaluated in consultation with players, tournaments, and medical experts," the governing body of men's professional tennis said.

"Player safety remains a top priority for the ATP."

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