Wimbledon has urged guests to stay hydrated and protect themselves from the sun as temperatures are forecast to hit 34C on Monday, potentially the hottest day of the championships. The Met Office predicts temperatures will remain above 30C for the rest of the tournament.
Spectators at the All England Club in south-west London were seen fanning themselves and watching matches under parasols due to a lack of shade in the stands. All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton assured that the club is prepared for the heat, with measures in place for guests, staff, and players.
Heat Rule for Players
Bolton said, "We've had a bit of practice, particularly last year, and we've got our usual measures in place." Wimbledon's heat rule allows a 10-minute break when the wet bulb globe temperature reaches 30.1C or higher. The break applies after the second set for best-of-three matches and after the third for best-of-five matches. Players may leave the court but cannot receive coaching or medical treatment.
Staff, ball boys, and ball girls will have shorter shifts and longer breaks to cope with the heat. Bolton added, "They're quite well tried and tested processes to support everyone here." She advised fans to use the multiple free water points, cover up, and bring sunscreen.
Health Alert and Advice
A yellow heat health alert from the UK Health Security Agency covering London is in place until 8pm on Saturday. Met Office spokesperson Andrea Bishop said guests will face "increasingly hot and sunny conditions" with light winds and prolonged sunshine, making it feel particularly warm on and around the courts. She urged attendees to stay hydrated, seek shade, and monitor UV and pollen levels.
Military stewards, trained to prevent sunstroke, will be on hand to support guests and will distribute free sun cream. Corporal Gillian Craig said, "If someone goes down, we would know what to do." La Roche-Posay, the official sun care supplier, expects to hand out 500,000 sunscreen samples during the tournament.
Half a million people are expected to attend the two-week event. Last year, play was stopped several times due to medical emergencies in the crowd amid similar temperatures.
