The first week of the French Open has seen as many players collapsing from heat exhaustion as upsets on court. The real culprit? An oppressive heat dome that's pushing wet bulb globe temperatures to dangerous levels.

A ball girl nearly fainted, while Jakub Mensik had to retire after a five-set match, saying his body 'just turned off.' Players are doing their best: sitting in the shade and applying ice packs. But it’s not enough when sweat stops working its magic due to high humidity.

The French Tennis Federation is monitoring wet bulb globe temperatures, ready to implement extended breaks between sets or even cancel matches if thresholds are breached. Yet, despite best efforts, these measures may struggle in the upcoming scorching days as the heat intensifies.

Research suggests that such extreme conditions could become commonplace within 20 years for much of northern Europe and other regions. This isn't just a problem for tennis; it’s a preview of what we all might face as climate change continues to push temperatures higher.