WIMBLEDON, LONG ASSOCIATED with prolonged rain delays, will introduce emergency playing rules for hot weather for the first time today with temperatures expected to reach the mid-30s.
Organisers say a heat rule, which allows for a 10-minute break between the second and third sets of women’s matches, can be used when temperatures rise above 30.1 degrees Celsius (86.2 degrees Fahrenheit).
However, the rule which has been adopted by Wimbledon after lobbying from the WTA, does not apply to men even though they have to slug it out over the best of five sets.
Tuesday’s heat is expected to hover around the 30C mark, but is expected to surge to around 35C on Wednesday.
The highest-ever temperature recorded at Wimbledon was 34C in 1976.
Despite the heat, All England Club chiefs said that the Centre Court roof would not be closed to preserve the tournament’s integrity as an outdoor event.
Maria Sharapova, the highest earner in women’s sport and the 2004 champion at Wimbledon, said it was wrong to describe the heat index rule being invoked only for women as sexist, but admitted the men too should be allowed the same courtesy.
“I think if it’s something that they’re concerned about it, they can reevaluate,” said the Russian.
“If it does get quite hot for us, we’re able to use it, then why not?”
Women’s world number one Serena Williams, who like Sharapova is scheduled to play on Wednesday in the second round, said the heat would not concern her as she regularly trains in temperatures of over 40C at her Florida home.
“I don’t think I’ve ever played in 34, 35 degrees here, but I do in other countries. I just was training in Florida — it was like 42 degrees. This will be okay,” said the American, a five-time champion at Wimbledon.
In a country often overly fixed on day-to-day climate fluctuations, there is a mass of data reflecting the tournament’s highs and lows.
The hottest average maximum daily temperature — 30.8C — was recorded in 1976 while the lowest minimum recorded was 4.9C on 24 June, 1999.
Only five Wimbledon tournaments have seen no rain whatsoever, the most recent of which was in 1993.
Spectators more accustomed to a wet and cooler Wimbledon can rest easy with rain expected on Thursday with temperatures expected to drop by around 10 degrees Celsius.
