Temperatures are expected to soar at Wimbledon over the coming days, with crowds set to face sweltering highs of 34°C throughout the course of the championships.
But for those competing at SW19, the extreme heat will pose another challenge altogether – and a new rule has been introduced to ensure the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper are kept as safe as possible during the action.
After all, today will go down as one the hottest opening days ever recorded in the history of the iconic tournament and fans have been told to avoid travelling to southwest London unless they have already purchased a ticket.
The hottest day the tournament has ever seen was on July 1, 2015, when temperatures rose to 35.7°C.
The rule in question – allowing a ten-minute when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is at or exceeds 30.1°C – will apply for all singles events across the next fortnight.
Wimbledon bosses have confirmed that it will require only one player involved in any match to request a break in order for the rule to be implemented.
The directive, which will not be valid for matches played under roofs, applies from the start of the second set in all best-of-three set matches. In best-of-five set contests, it will apply after the first two sets.
Wimbledon’s new heat rule for 2025
The heat rule will apply to all singles events at the Qualifying and Main Draw for The Championships 2025. These are the Gentlemen’s Singles, Ladies’ Singles, Boys’ Singles, Girls’ Singles, Gentlemen’s Wheelchair Singles, Ladies’ Wheelchair Singles, and Quad Wheelchair Singles.
It allows a ten-minute break when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is at or above 30.1 degrees Celsius. It applies to all matches including those which have already started. Only one of the players participating in the match needs to request the break for the rule to be implemented.
The rule will apply after the second set for all best-of-three set matches, and after the third for all best-of-five set matches. Players may leave the court during the break, but they may not receive coaching or medical treatment.
The heat index is a measure, which factors together the air temperature, the humidity and the surface temperature and is measured by a heat stress monitor. The WBGT readings are taken 30 minutes prior to the start of play and then at 14.00 and 17.00.
If there is a change in weather conditions and the rule is lifted, those matches already in progress will be completed with the rule in place.
The heat rule will not apply to matches played under the roofs. In addition, if a match is carried over to a following day when the heat rule is in place, then it will not apply to any best of three set match that has completed one set, or to any best of five set match that has completed two sets.
Denise Parnell – Wimbledon referee
Wimbledon have also warned spectators flocking to the championships that there will likely be periods where shade is not available over the first two days of the championships.
‘Please note there is a hot weather forecast for Monday and Tuesday,’ a statement read.
‘In both the queue and the grounds, there may be periods where shade is not available.’
Large parts of England have entered a fourth day of a national heatwave today, with hotter temperatures forecast than some holiday spots in Barbados, Jamaica and Mexico.
Temperatures in the United Kingdom have exceeded 34°C in only three years in the month of June since as far back as 1960, the hottest date being June 28, 1976 – when 35.6°C was recorded in what was the hottest and longest heatwave ever recorded.
London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner, Thomas Goodall, has urged the public to ‘act responsibly’ amid the soaring temperatures, with a number of wildfires reported in the capital.
‘So far this year, firefighters have responded to around 14 wildfires in the capital,’ he said in a statement.
‘There have also been countless callouts to smaller fires involving grass, trees and in other outdoor spaces, as well as in people’s gardens.
‘During this latest heatwave, it is important that everyone acts responsibly to prevent fires from occurring. As the weather has been so dry, it only takes a few sparks to lead to a fire spreading rapidly.
‘In London, this can be dangerous because so many of our green spaces lie close to homes and other properties.’
Another drastic change introduced at this year’s tournament is the removal of all line judges for the first time in the championships’ 148-year history.
Instead, electronic line calling will inform both competitors and the chair umpire of decisions during play during all main draw matches.
How to watch Wimbledon 2025
The BBC remains the principal broadcaster of Wimbledon and you can tune in to follow the action for free on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
Previously, both the BBC and Eurosport have broadcast live coverage of the singles finals, the BBC and TNT Sports broadcasting the showpiece men’s and women’s contests for 2025.
Clare Balding heads up the BBC’s star-studded presenting team, also boasting the likes of Tim Henman, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova and more.
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