Jack Sock Retires from 2015 US Open Match vs. Ruben Bemelmans After Collapsing

With temperatures reaching 90 degrees, many players at the 2015 U.S. Open are struggling to deal with the humid conditions in Flushing, New York—none more so than Jack Sock. The 22-year-old was forced to retire in the second round against Ruben Bemelmans.

Leading the match 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 1-2, Sock slowly collapsed in the fourth set while receiving medical treatment, per Sports Illustrated Tennis. The Intercept's Andrew Jerell Jones posted a video of an exhausted Sock being helped down to the court:

The situation made for a jarring visual as the on-court medics tended to the No. 28 player in the world, per Nick McCarvel of USA Today:

He voiced his displeasure with the disappointing outing in a post-match statement, per Greg Garber of ESPN.com:

"

Playing in the US Open is the biggest and most important moment of the season for me, so having to retire from my match today is extremely disappointing. I want to thank everyone for their support and can't wait to be back next year. I feel better already and look forward to playing Davis Cup.

"

Sock's retirement is part of a larger trend at this year's U.S. Open. According to Ben Rothenberg of the New York Times, men's players account for 11 of the 13 retirements in the tournament. Simon Cambers of the Guardian is asking the question on many fans' minds:

The International Tennis Federation has jurisdiction over Grand Slam events and stipulates all men's singles matches must be best-of-five sets. Perhaps the ITF would rethink that position, but the tournaments themselves could push back a bit, considering reducing the number of men's singles sets would mean less tennis and potentially less revenue.

Meanwhile, Bemelmans advances to the third round following Sock's retirement. The Belgian faces fifth-seeded Stan Wawrinka in his next match.