John McEnroe shouts ‘help this guy’ as French Open star collapses to the floor | Tennis | Sport

Paramedics rushed to a second-round match at the French Open after a player collapsed amid “insane” temperatures. Czech star Jakub Mensik went down following an epic five-set battle against Mariano Navone under the Roland Garros sun, and needed a wheelchair when departing the court.

Mensik had been competing for four hours and 41 minutes, and crumpled to the floor with severe cramp immediately after striking the decisive point in a mammoth fifth-set tie-break that would ultimately secure him a 6-3 2-6 6-4 1-6 7-6 victory. He could be seen gripping his thigh while serving for the winning point, but managed to deliver a decisive forehand before collapsing.

Paramedics were spotted racing to his aid with ice packs, which Mensik used as a pillow while lying on the clay.

Navone, visibly worried, approached to check his opponent was alright before shaking hands, with Mensik back on his feet five minutes later.

John McEnroe, on commentary duties, could be heard saying: “Help him out. That is… Boy, oh boy.

“Somebody’s got to help him out,” he added. “The match is over. Come on! Help this guy!”

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Mensik, evidently still struggling, was then assisted into a wheelchair, with an ice pack positioned on his head as he finally left the court.

“It’s insane to play in this weather and especially in front of the sun,” Mensik said afterwards. “To be there for more than four-and-a-half hours, that’s just insane. Even with the breaks, you don’t have that much time.

“When I hit the last point, the last winner, the emotions went out and my body just turned off. I was not able to do anything.

“The ending says it all, but I’m just happy that I kept fighting.”

Both players and spectators have had to battle sweltering conditions throughout the week in Paris, with temperatures consistently reaching the mid-30s, prompting some players to demand that authorities step in.

Novak Djokovic believes the French Open and other Grand Slams should adopt rules similar to those at the Australian Open, where matches on outside courts are suspended once temperatures exceed a certain threshold. Playing later into the evening, he suggests, could offer a viable solution.

“Honestly, with Grand Slams it shouldn’t be an issue because we have so many courts,” he said. “We have lights. You have big courts. You can play the matches. You can reschedule them some to other courts and still have the crowd in the stadium and everything.

“Is it ideal to go over midnight? It’s not. But if you have certain days that you have extreme heat and conditions, then maybe that’s something to consider.”