Wimbledon ‘ready’ for soaring temperatures

Attendees playing tennis as they queued for tickets on the first day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships on June 30. PHOTO: AFP

UPDATED Jun 30, 2025, 06:32 PM

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LONDON - Wimbledon chief executive Sally Bolton said the Grand Slam is not used to baking summer temperatures but “we’re absolutely ready for it” as the mercury soared in London on June 30.

Temperatures on the first day of the championships are expected to climb to at least 33 deg C.

Wimbledon has a heat rule that it is ready to activate to safeguard the health of players.

It is based on a heat stress index that takes into account a number of factors including air temperature, humidity and surface temperature.

“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 Ms Bolton.

“We do have the heat rule available to us which again is well used on the tour so we will be taking heat stress monitor readings.”

Heat stress monitor readings are taken 30 minutes before the start of play and then at 2pm and 5pm .

The heat rule allows for a 10-minute break to be taken between the second and third sets for women’s matches, and between the third and fourth sets for men’s matches, when the heat stress index is at or above 30.1 deg C.

“It’s a well-tested rule but I appreciate not here at the championships so often,” said Ms Bolton. “But we’ve got that ready to put in place”.

The chief executive of the All England Club said there were also protocols in place to look after ball-boys and ball-girls on court, who have access to cooling scarves.

Ms Bolton urged fans to keep an eye on those around them.

“We’ve got a really significantly sized medical team here so we’ve got people here to help if that’s needed.

“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.”

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