Roger Federer's ex-coach insists 'nobody wins' amid Frenchman's scary collapse

(Getty/Matthew Stockman)

Ivan Ljubičić, the former coach of 20-time major winner Roger Federer, is calling for greater care when it comes to player welfare after worrying scenes in Cincinnati.

World No.70 Arthur Rinderknech trailed 6-7(4) 2-2 in his third round match against Felix Auger Aliassime before suddenly fainting due to the intense heat, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees.

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In a state of concern, Auger Aliassime quickly rushed over to his struggling opponent, accompanied by the chair umpire.

Medical staff attended to Rinderknech, as the Frenchman was given ice packs to cool down.

However, he lasted two more games until retiring down 2-4 in the second set.

Ljubičić, who reached as high as world No.3, weighed in on X, arguing that Rinderknech's collapse "has nothing to do with being fit" and that "nobody wins".

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A sympathetic Auger Aliassime shared what Rinderknech told him post-match.

"It feels like we're in an oven. We spoke afterward, and (Rinderknech) told me he wasn't feeling very well today, right from the start, and that was the case throughout the entire match. He tried to stay in the fight. Winning that first set was key for me," he said.

The Canadian has to find a way past world No.1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000 event, but he will be banking on a favourable 2-0 head-to-head record over the high-flying Italian.

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