Carlos Alcaraz narrowly escaped an early exit in his Wimbledon opener, while Aryna Sabalenka advanced with ease on what has been recorded as the hottest opening day in the tournament’s history. Temperatures soared to 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit) at the All England Club on Monday, surpassing the previous record of 29.3 degrees Celsius set in 2001.
Despite the sweltering conditions, Alcaraz managed to secure a 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 victory over 38-year-old Fabio Fognini in a grueling match that lasted four hours and 37 minutes on Centre Court. This marked the first time since Roger Federer’s narrow win over Alejandro Falla in 2010 that a defending champion was pushed to a fifth set in the Wimbledon first round.
Alcaraz, the world number two, overcame 62 unforced errors and an inconsistent performance, demonstrating resilience in the intense heat. “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.”
Extreme Heat Challenges Players
The extreme heat was a significant factor for both players and spectators, with former England captain David Beckham and ex-England manager Gareth Southgate watching from the royal box. During his match, Alcaraz even rushed to assist a spectator who collapsed, offering a bottle of water until medics arrived.
Meanwhile, top seed Aryna Sabalenka used ice packs to combat the heat during her 6-1, 7-5 win over Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine on Court One. Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, expressed gratitude for her health and readiness to compete, stating, “I felt really great. Super grateful to be healthy and ready to compete and to be through the first round.”
Wimbledon implements a heat rule to protect players, allowing 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,” said Wimbledon chief executive Sally Bolton.
Upsets and Retirements
The heat took its toll on other players as well. Two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur broke down in tears before retiring from her match against Viktoriya Tomova. Jabeur was trailing 7-6 (7/5), 2-0 when she ended her match prematurely.
In another surprising turn, former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev suffered a meltdown against France’s Benjamin Bonzi, losing 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2. Medvedev expressed frustration, smashing his racquet against his chair post-match. “I was surprised by his level,” Medvedev admitted. “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.”
Former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini also faced an unexpected defeat, losing to Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak. The Italian, seeded 32nd, was beaten 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, marking his fifth consecutive Grand Slam without advancing past the second round.
Mixed Reactions to Heat
Opinions on the heat varied among players. German Eva Lys, who won against China’s Yuan Yue, found the conditions challenging, stating, “Really, really tough. I was sweating a lot, so my racquet was very slippery. It’s the first time playing with heat on grass.”
Conversely, American Frances Tiafoe seemed unfazed, cruising to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory against Denmark’s Elmer Moller. “Honestly, I didn’t feel that hot out there. It was hot. I was sweating, but I didn’t really feel like it was that hot,” Tiafoe remarked.
Looking Ahead
As the tournament progresses, players and fans alike will be keeping a close eye on the weather, with more high temperatures forecasted. Carlos Alcaraz will face British qualifier Oliver Tarvet in the second round, aiming to continue his quest to join the ranks of Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic as a three-time consecutive Wimbledon champion.
Meanwhile, the tournament will continue to test the endurance and adaptability of its competitors, with the heat adding an extra layer of challenge to the prestigious grass-court event.
