Carlos Alcaraz narrowly escaped a first-round exit at Wimbledon, while Aryna Sabalenka advanced comfortably amid record-breaking heat at the All England Club. On Monday, temperatures soared to 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous opening day record of 29.3 degrees set in 2001.
Despite the sweltering conditions, Alcaraz managed a hard-fought 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 victory over 38-year-old Fabio Fognini. The grueling match on Centre Court lasted four hours and 37 minutes, marking the first time since Roger Federer in 2010 that a defending champion was pushed to a fifth set in the first round.
Alcaraz, the world number two, overcame 62 unforced errors and the intense heat, demonstrating resilience and sportsmanship when he assisted a spectator who collapsed during the match. “Playing on Centre Court for the first match of any tournament is never easy. Wimbledon is special and different,” Alcaraz remarked. He will face British qualifier Oliver Tarvet in the second round.
Sabalenka and Other Seeds Navigate Heat
Aryna Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, used ice packs to combat the heat during her 6-1, 7-5 win over Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine. The Belarusian, who has struggled in recent Grand Slam finals, expressed gratitude for her health and readiness to compete. She will next face Czech world number 48 Marie Bouzkova.
Meanwhile, the heat took its toll on other players. Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, a two-time Wimbledon finalist, retired from her match against Viktoriya Tomova due to the conditions. “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.
Heat Divides Opinions Among Players
The extreme weather conditions sparked mixed reactions among competitors. German Eva Lys found the heat challenging in her victory over China’s Yuan Yue, while American Frances Tiafoe remained unfazed, cruising to a straight-sets win against Denmark’s Elmer Moller. “Honestly, I didn’t feel that hot out there,” Tiafoe commented.
Conversely, former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev struggled against France’s Benjamin Bonzi, losing in four sets. Medvedev expressed surprise at his opponent’s performance, noting the unusual conditions. “The court is a bit different, a bit slower with the heat,” he observed.
Surprise Exits and Continued Matches
Several high-profile players faced early exits. Matteo Berrettini, a former Wimbledon finalist, was defeated by Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak, while Stefanos Tsitsipas retired due to a back injury. Tsitsipas expressed frustration over his physical struggles, stating, “I’ve tried everything. I’ve done an incredible job with my fitness.”
As matches extended late into the evening, some were suspended due to the 11 pm local time curfew. Notably, Alexander Zverev’s match against France’s Arthur Rinderknech was paused after two sets, and Taylor Fritz’s encounter with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard will resume with a deciding set.
With the heat wave expected to continue, players and fans alike brace for more challenging conditions as the tournament progresses. The resilience and adaptability of competitors will be tested as Wimbledon 2023 unfolds under the blazing London sun.
