The unprecedented heat at Roland Garros took its toll on Jakub Mensik, who collapsed to the ground upon winning his four-hour and 41-minute match.
The 20-year-old tried to sit up briefly before collapsing to the ground again, unable to move. His opponent Mariano Navone walked over to check on his opponent before bending down to shake hands after losing the contest 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (13-11).
Mensik’s trainer rushed out on court to check on him before he was surrounded by paramedics as ice packs were brought to him. At one point the Czech player was using the ice packs as a pillow while he lay on the ground for more than five minutes.
Although Mensik was eventually able to get up and walk off court, he managed only a few paces before the colour drained from his face and he had to sit down in a wheelchair that had been following him.
With an ice pack on his head, Mensik was then wheeled to the players’ area, where he gingerly got to his feet and was just about able to walk down the stairs again, albeit with the help of the rail next to the staircase.
