The Paris heat is starting to take a heavy toll early on tennis players this week at Roland Garros.
Jakub Mensik was the latest victim in what made for a scary scene Wednesday.
The No. 26 Czech player battled through an all-time five-setter on clay against Argentina’s Mariano Navone that included a wild 13-point tie-breaker final set.
Mensik earned a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (11) win but had nothing left to give after the 4:41 match and immediately collapsed on the clay.
The 20-year-old was struck seemingly by leg cramps and didn’t get up as Navone strolled over to shake his hand before the chair umpire walked over a few moments later.
At one point, Mensik sat up but grimaced and quickly went back to lying down before waving his hands in search of medical attention.
“The match is over. I mean come on. Help this guy!” John McEnroe said on “The MacZone” broadcast with brother Patrick.
While delayed, physios and medical did make their way to the court to attend to Mensik for possible heatstroke.
He received a bag of ice for his forehead and was on the ground for about 10 minutes before being helped up.
The medical team offered Mensik a wheelchair as he stood, but he refused.
Mensik walked off the court under his own power covered in clay after one of the most memorable matches of his career.
Mensik will have only a day to recover before he faces No. 8 Alex De Minaur of Australia on Friday in the third round.
Wednesday wasn’t the first time this week the weather and the challenge of hydration that it brings got to player.
Casper Ruud and his first-round opponent Roman Safiullin felt the effects Monday, dealing with a heatstroke and a stomach issue, respectively.
Ruud won 6-2, 7-6(5), 5-7, 0-6, 6-2, but said he felt “really dizzy” and like he was “walking around like a zombie almost” during the fourth set.
During the final set, he was “jump-starting almost a dead body.”
Rudd, the World No. 15 player, takes on Hamad Medjedovic in the second round Wednesday.
