Fans Keep Cool at the Atlanta Tennis Championships

NORCROSS, Georgia - Who says it’s just the players feeling the heat? Not the brave tennis fans in Atlanta.

4,000 fans, scores of volunteers, tournament officials and ball kids are sometimes spending triple the time that the players are spending in the oven-like conditions this week in Atlanta.

While the hot and humid conditions snuck up on the event last year when it was played at the Atlanta Athletic Club, this year more precautions were put in place to make sure fans and tournament workers had a place to go to escape the heat.

Racquet Club of the South, this year's venue for the tournament, provides an air conditioned indoor space for a food court and a mini shopping mall, giving fans a temporary oasis in what feels like a desert.  Not only is it cooler, the oasis has places to eat, shop and relax for fans when they aren’t watching tennis.

Other shaded areas that included "misting stations" were set up around the grounds. One family camped out at one of the misting areas and decided to watch the action on one of the big screen televisions outside the stadium court.

Medical staff is on hand to assist any spectators who might be struggling with the heat. "We have golf carts and first aid kits in every corner of the stadium to help fans," said one Gwinnett County Medical official. As of Saturday night no heat related illnesses were reported.

Most fans agree that the tennis in Atlanta has been hot this week, but the scorching temperatures won’t keep them away. Hand-held fans are being given away at the entrance each day and fans appear to be keeping hydrated and finding shade when necessary.