Carlos Alcaraz narrowly escaped a shocking defeat in his Wimbledon opener, while Aryna Sabalenka breezed into the second round on what was recorded as the hottest opening day in the tournament’s history. The intense heat at the All England Club on Monday reached a sweltering 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit), breaking the previous record of 29.3 Celsius set in 2001.
Despite the oppressive conditions, Alcaraz managed to overcome 38-year-old Fabio Fognini in a grueling five-set match that lasted four hours and 37 minutes on Centre Court. The defending champion’s 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 victory marked the first time since 2010 that a reigning Wimbledon champion was pushed to a fifth set in the first round.
Alcaraz’s performance was marred by 62 unforced errors, yet he remained resilient in the face of adversity. “I don’t know why it is probably Fabio’s last Wimbledon because the level he has shown shows he can still play for three or four more years,” Alcaraz commented. “Playing on Centre Court for the first match of any tournament is never easy. Wimbledon is special and different. I just tried to play my best but I would say that I could play better.”
Sabalenka’s Composure Amidst Heat
Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one, utilized ice packs to combat the heat during her 6-1, 7-5 win over Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine on Court One. The 27-year-old Belarusian, a three-time Grand Slam champion, expressed her relief at advancing past the first round, having missed last year’s tournament due to a shoulder injury. “I felt really great. Super grateful to be healthy and ready to compete and to be through the first round,” she stated.
Sabalenka’s next challenge will be against Czech world number 48 Marie Bouzkova, as she aims to surpass her previous best of reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals.
Heat Takes Its Toll
The extreme weather conditions took a toll on several players. Two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur was forced to retire from her match against Viktoriya Tomova due to the heat, trailing 7-6 (7/5), 2-0. Jabeur, visibly emotional, took a medical timeout before deciding to end the match prematurely.
Wimbledon’s heat rule, designed to protect players’ health, allows for a 10-minute break between sets when the heat stress index exceeds 30.1 degrees Celsius. “The obvious point to make is that the athletes compete in temperatures like this all year on the tour so for us Brits here at the championships it feels very hot,” noted Wimbledon chief executive Sally Bolton.
German player Eva Lys echoed the sentiment, describing her 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory against China’s Yuan Yue as “really, really tough.” She added, “I was sweating a lot, so my racquet was very slippery. It’s the first time playing with heat on grass. I feel like it’s really tough on the legs.”
Unexpected Exits and Drama
The scorching conditions also saw unexpected exits and dramatic moments. Former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev experienced a meltdown against France’s Benjamin Bonzi, losing 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2. Medvedev expressed surprise at Bonzi’s performance, stating, “I was surprised by his level. I know that he can play well. I would be surprised if you find a match of him playing like this any other time this year.”
Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, a former Wimbledon finalist, suffered a surprise first-round defeat at the hands of Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak. Berrettini’s loss continues a troubling trend, as he has failed to progress beyond the second round in his last five Grand Slam appearances.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, the men’s 24th seed, also exited the tournament, retiring due to a back injury after losing the first two sets to France’s Valentin Royer. “I’m battling many wars these days. It’s really painful to see myself in a situation like this,” Tsitsipas lamented.
Looking Ahead
As the tournament progresses, players and fans alike are bracing for more intense heat. Matches are scheduled to continue into the second day, with some players facing extended time on court due to the late start of their matches.
Amidst the challenges, the resilience and adaptability of the players will be tested. As the competition heats up, both literally and figuratively, the world will be watching to see who can withstand the pressure and emerge victorious at this year’s Wimbledon.
