Tennis and the Sun
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
It has been reported that almost 85% of professional tennis tournaments are held outdoors, and some players are training or competing in the direct sun for an estimated 400 hours per year, exposing them to a high level of ultraviolet, which can lead to eye damage and skin cancers.
It has been stated that tennis follows the sun: from Australia in January, Europe in June to Asia in November, to facilitate optimal playing conditions all year round.
At this year’s Australian Open, for example, temperatures are expected to reach 37 degrees Celsius, which has prompted the comment by the Mexican player, Renata Zarazua, that "the Australian sun is no joke", as she posted a picture of her blistered and bright red back!
Several former players have also reported issues, including Andy Roddick, who has suffered various types of skin cancer, and Jennifer Capriati and Chris Evert, who have suffered growths on their corneas – known as pterygiums –which are a result of exposure to the sun.
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the Governing Body of British tennis, has begun trying to protect its players from the effects of the sun; by offering them annual specialist sports vision tests and skin and mole checks with dermatologists as part of its pre-season screenings.
The chief medical officer of the LTA, Guy Evans, has stated that:
“This proactive approach is necessary because players are at a high risk to sun exposure.”
And has added that:
"They'll train for many hours in the day. We'll go into our offices and sit in the dark for eight hours, but they'll be out in the sun. We as a national governing body need to be doing our best to help reduce the chances of malignancy and other risks as a result of that."
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
