Wimbledon is hit by record-breaking
Day 1 temperatures as the tournament gets started
[July 01, 2025]
By HOWARD FENDRICH and KEN MAGUIRE
LONDON (AP) — Wimbledon players and spectators were hit by
record-breaking Day 1 heat as the temperature rose to 91 degrees
Fahrenheit — 33 Celsius — at the oldest Grand Slam tournament on
Monday.
"For sure, you feel like the sun is getting closer and closer every
minute that passes by,” said Adrian Mannarino, a 37-year-old
Frenchman who frequently sprayed his shaved head with sunscreen at
changeovers during his first-round victory. “I was struggling a
little more than usual."
The 2001 fortnight had the previous hottest opening day at the All
England Club, reaching 85 degrees F (29.3 degrees C).
“I feel like everyone is kind of struggling with the heat right
now,” Germany's Eva Lys said after winning her match Monday.
Some sweat-soaked athletes sought help from ice-filled towels
wrapped around their necks while they sat on sideline chairs.
Others said it actually wasn't all that unbearable, especially given
that the weather was not extraordinary compared to what often occurs
during the local summers when the Australian Open is held in
Melbourne in January or the U.S. Open is in New York in August and
September. At those events, temperatures regularly get to 90 degrees
F (32 degrees C) and can top 100 degrees F (38 degrees C).
A 2023 Associated Press analysis showed the average high
temperatures felt during the U.S. Open and the three other major
tennis tournaments steadily have gotten higher and more dangerous in
recent decades, reflecting the climate change that has created
record heat waves. For the players, it can inhibit them from playing
their best and, worse, increase the likelihood of heat-related
illness.
By local standards, this certainly was significant.
“I’m not going to lie, it was pretty hot. I think (it was) a bit of
a rookie mistake, not doing a change of clothes at the end of the
set,” said Sonay Kartal, a British player who eliminated 2017 French
Open champion Jelena Ostapenko. “It was hot, but I had ice towels,
cold drinks and stuff. I wouldn’t say it affected me too much.”
The average daytime temperature in London in June is 71 degrees F
(21.5 degrees C). The government’s official weather office said this
spring was Britain's “warmest and sunniest” since that’s been
tracked.
“I’ll spend the whole day going from one shady spot to another,”
said Sally Bolton, the chief executive officer of the All England
Club.
[to top of second column] |
Visitors use fans to stay cool at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships
in London, Monday, June 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
“Obviously, it’s a very warm day. The first obvious
point to make is that the athletes compete in temperatures like this
all year on the tour,” Bolton said. “For us Brits here at The
Championships, it feels very hot.”
Wimbledon, like other tennis tournaments, monitors
air temperature, surface temperature and humidity for a heat-stress
reading that, if it exceeds 30.1 degrees C (about 86 degrees F),
allows for 10-minute breaks between the second and third sets of
women's matches or between the third and fourth sets of men's
matches.
Among other precautions being taken Monday, Bolton said, were having
more ice on court available for players to use to cool off, rotating
ball girls and boys more frequently “if we feel we need to,” and
giving regular breaks to workers around the grounds.
As for fans, Bolton said, “we're offering the same advice as lots of
the medical professionals: Come prepared. Bring a hat. Wear
sunscreen. Wear light clothing if you can. Take breaks out of the
sun. We’ve got over 100 water points around the grounds, so
definitely stay hydrated. And keep an eye on your friends and others
around you. If people look like they're suffering a little bit from
heat stress, we’ve got a really significantly sized medical team
here.”
Fans used umbrellas to offer shade, rather than protection from the
drizzles often seen around these parts. A year ago, because of
persistent showers, it took four days — instead of the scheduled two
— to complete the first round.
Thinking back to the rain-filled Wimbledon of 2024, Bolton joked:
“We’re not used to these sort of temperatures, but we’re absolutely
ready for it — and actually delighted that it's sunny and not wet,
like it was last year.”
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
