Wimbledon 2025 served up more than just tennis on its opening day. London’s sweltering heat turned Centre Court into a furnace, setting a record for the hottest-ever start to the tournament. By midday, the temperature at the All England Club had soared to 29.7°C (85.5°F), according to the Met Office, breaking the previous opening-day high from 2001 and adding a new layer of challenge for players and fans alike. But if the sun was relentless, so were the players. Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz found himself in a gritty five-set battle against veteran Fabio Fognini. But while the players were pushing through, the heat has caught onto one spectator.
With major upsets already rocking the men’s draw—including the early exits of Daniil Medvedev (5), Holger Rune (9), and Stefanos Tsitsipas (24) the pressure was on the Spaniard to hold firm. And he did just that, digging deep to seize a 3-0 lead in the deciding set.
As Carlos Alcaraz prepared to continue, chair umpire James Keothavong suddenly announced a temporary suspension of play due to a health and safety incident involving a spectator. The scorching conditions had seemingly taken their toll in the stands, prompting immediate concern.
Play suspended on centre.
A spectator isn’t feeling well.
Alcaraz leads 3-0 in the decider.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) June 30, 2025
Alcaraz was quick to react. Noticing the distress, he grabbed a water bottle and rushed toward the affected spectator, drawing a round of applause from the crowd for his thoughtful gesture. A member of the security team followed suit, shielding the fan with an umbrella while others fanned them, trying to provide relief.
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