Arthur Rinderknech’s collapse from heat exhaustion during his third-round match against Félix Auger-Aliassime at the 2025 Cincinnati Open sparked more than just concern for player safety. In the aftermath of this incident, the Frenchman advocated for the well-being of ball kids, match officials, and spectators at the tournament.
How Did Arthur Rinderknech’s Collapse Highlight Broader Safety Concerns at Cincinnati?
Rinderknech wasn’t alone in struggling with the oppressive conditions. Several other players, including Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Luciano Darderi, and Jakub Menšík, also withdrew from their matches at the ATP Masters 1000 hard court event due to the extreme heat.
The French player had built momentum heading into his match against Auger-Aliassime. He defeated Nuno Borges 6-3, 6-3 in the first round and then overcame 11th seed Casper Ruud.
However, his third-round encounter against 23rd seed Auger-Aliassime ended abruptly when he collapsed on court during the second set. With the score at 7-6(4), 4-2 in the Canadian’s favor, Rinderknech was forced to retire, unable to continue battling both his opponent and the unforgiving weather.
😲 Arthur Rinderknech collapsed mid-match due to the heat in Cincinnati.
The Frenchman was forced to retire after trailing 6-7 2-4 against Félix Auger-Aliassime.pic.twitter.com/PDwD6G2oOM
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) August 11, 2025
Following his retirement, Rinderknech took to social media to express his concerns about the “brutal” weather conditions at the tournament.
“Conditions are also brutal for ball pickers, the referee and the public. Let’s not forget them, it’s important 🙏,” Rinderknech captioned his Instagram story.
While players can take timeouts and receive medical attention, ball kids continue working throughout matches, and officials must maintain focus despite the challenging conditions.
Looking ahead, Rinderknech is scheduled to compete at the 2025 Winston-Salem Open, which will take place from August 17 to August 23, 2025, at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
What Did Félix Auger-Aliassime Reveal About the Conditions?
After his third-round match against Rinderknech at the 2025 Cincinnati Open, Auger-Aliassime spoke to Tennis Channel about the intense conditions. The Canadian described the experience as playing in an “oven” and expressed concern for everyone at the venue.
“It feels like an oven, even for the fans. We’re in motion and focused on trying to win, but the crowd is sitting for a long time, and for our teams, too. Friendly reminder to drink plenty of water, bring hats, and stay cool as much as possible,” Auger-Aliassime said.
The former World No. 6 also revealed that Rinderknech had confided in him after the match, explaining that his struggles began before they even stepped on court.
“We spoke afterward, and he told me he wasn’t feeling very great today, right from the start, and that was the case throughout the entire match. He tried to stay in the fight,” he added.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Auger-Aliassime continued his strong run through the tournament. He began his campaign at the 2025 Cincinnati Open in the second round, having received a first-round bye. In his opening match, he secured a victory over Tomás Martín Etcheverry.
After advancing past Rinderknech’s retirement in the third round, the Canadian secured his place in the quarterfinals by defeating Benjamin Bonzi 6-4, 6-3. His reward for navigating the brutal conditions was a quarterfinal showdown with defending champion and top seed Jannik Sinner.
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Sinner and Auger- Aliassime have met twice on the ATP Tour, with the Canadian emerging victorious in both encounters.
Their most recent clash was in the third round of the 2022 Cincinnati Open, where Auger-Aliassime triumphed 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-1. The winner of their quarterfinal match will advance to face either seventh seed Holger Rune or qualifier Térence Atmane in the semifinals.