Wimbledon fans abandon tennis queue in heatwave
Wimbledon fans have abandoned the queue for Centre Court seats because of the heat.
Stewards at Wimbledon Park told The Telegraph people have been leaving, saying they will come back when the weather is cooler.
Fans often arrive hours or even days in advance to buy ground passes or the small number of tickets still available.
It comes as Wimbledon braces for its hottest-ever opening day as a heatwave is forecast to peak at 36C on Monday. The previous record temperature for the start of the Grand Slam event was set in 2001 at 29.3C.
The forecast for Monday could also be the hottest temperature ever recorded during the tournament at SW19. The previous highest was 35.7C in 2015.
Three stewards, who all asked to remain anonymous, said some guests braved the queue for a few hours on Sunday before eventually deciding to come back another day.
One said: 'People have arrived and then left, saying they'll come back when the weather is cooler. We're giving regular advice to people turning up about the hot weather and to stay hydrated with water.'
British health officials have issued an amber heat health warning until 6pm on Tuesday July 1 for much of the country, including London. This warns of a rise in deaths, particularly amongst people aged 65 and over, or those with health conditions.
Heat rule in force
Wimbledon's heat rule will probably come into force, which allows for a 10-minute break in play during extreme heat.
The rule will apply after the second set for all best-of-three set matches, and after the third set for all best-of-five set matches, with players allowed to leave the court during the break, but not to receive coaching or medical treatment.
Wimbledon organisers are taking precautions to protect the general public and staff, including ball boys and girls (BBGs), as well as players.
'Adverse weather is a key consideration in our planning for The Championships, and we are prepared for the predicted hot weather, with comprehensive plans in place for guests, players, staff and the BBGs,' a club statement said.
More free water refill stations will be provided around the grounds, and real-time weather alerts will be announced on big screens and via the tournament website.
Despite the warm weather, some guests who stayed in the queue on Sunday said there was a brilliant atmosphere ahead of the opening day.
Alison Belton, from Bicester, said she would have 'preferred to come later next week when it is cooler', but had already made plans and added: 'We don't regret coming today, but it is a bit warm.'
Nicola Woodrow, 45, Letchworth Garden City, added: 'This is our fifth year of camping in the queue. We love the atmosphere.
'The weather is flipping hot, really hot, but it makes a change. We've been here when it has been pouring with rain.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
15 minutes ago
- BBC News
Faith amid the fury - how Lion king Itoje keeps his peace
Maro Itoje's head has been in Moussa's hands for more than a behind the barber's chair, Moussa has seen Itoje mature from a much-hyped teenager to a three-time 30-year-old British and Irish captain for the first time, one of Itoje's final appointments before departing for Australia is to have his mane trimmed."It has been a while," says Itoje of his and Moussa's relationship."It is going to be a challenge on tour."You always have to have some trust - a bit of a leap of faith - when you walk into a new barber's chair. Especially in Australia, where I don't think they are too used to Afro-Caribbean hair!"Faith, and contingency plans, will be a theme for Itoje over the next five asked about how religion fitted into his tactics, former Labour spin guru Alastair Campbell famously said "we don't do God".Itoje, who was introduced to Campbell by England team manager Richard Hill as a youngster and remains in touch, definitely his unveiling as Lions captain in May, he revealed he had missed Bible study to be he was promoted to England captain in January, his pastor was one of six people he told before the public announcement., externalAsked about the long journey to both posts, Itoje has a simple explanation: "God's timing is always the best time.""In the last two or three years I have made a conscious decision to double down in that regard," he tells BBC Sport."I was probably a lukewarm Christian for a large part of my life. I was probably someone who went to church, but was not really living the principles or values of it that deeply, but I have always been a believer."The humility that I have tried to embody throughout my life definitely comes from knowing that everything I have has been a gift, not by my own doing, but by the guy upstairs."By Itoje's high standards and own admission, that humility wasn't always present on previous Lions has described his 22-year-old self, who won over the Lions fans' sea of red in New Zealand in 2017, as "a little bit brash and a bit naive".This time around, at the very centre of the hype and hoopla, he is determined to keep his calm and routine. "I try to have a daily amount of time that I spend, whether that is reading the Bible or praying, ideally both," he explains."I also try and do Bible study once or twice a week at least."I am going to try and maintain the system I have over in Australia, with Zoom and Whatsapp video calls."Itoje's previous Lions tours have come down to the New Zealand, his team was ahead for only three minutes across three Tests, but came away with a drawn South Africa, four years later, Morne Steyn's kick, two minutes from time in the deciding third encounter, dashed the tourists' margins are small. The emotions are vast. The pressure is a thousand leagues can scramble the composure of the best. But Itoje has his philosophy and his peace."Sport is unpredictable, you don't know how things are going to transpire," he says."Sometimes you can deserve to win and lose, and sometimes you can deserve to lose and win - there is not necessarily rhyme or reason for that."You have to just stay as consistent as possible through your actions and hope, through it all, you end up in the place you are supposed to be."Faith is just one part of a hinterland as wide as the outback. Itoje describes himself as having a "portfolio existence" off the Akoje Gallery, which Itoje founded in 2023, is a prominent part"There is a commercial aspect to it - we want to sell art - but we also want to propel and promote art, particularly African art," he says."It is a massive market and full of talent and we want to help provide opportunities for artists in our care." Last year, the Akoje Gallery funded residencies for seven artists to spend time developing their work at the stately Dumfries House in rural Ayrshire in also set up the Pearl Fund, which helps disadvantaged children in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. He has a keen interest in politics. He has a degree in it from SOAS, University of London. He has since earned a Masters degree in business as a teenage travelling reserve for Saracens, he spent a coach trip to Newcastle composing poetry., external More recently he has trodden the catwalk as a April, at a Downing Street reception to mark St George's Day, he was the star turn, giving a speech in which he talked about Englishness and identity."I believe human beings are multi-faceted, we are not a monolith," he said."I am a rugby player, I am an athlete, but that is what I do, not who I am. I have other interests."He finished by jokily making a play for the job of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was standing next to breadth of his interests and the depth of his thought have triggered suspicion in England coach Eddie Jones publicly doubted whether Itoje was captaincy material. Jones claimed Itoje was "very inward-looking" and lacked influence over his politely, but firmly, disagreed. So far, events seem to support the younger clear, calm 80-minute leadership carried England to a second-place finish in this year's Six Saracens, footage of his pep talks - passionate, canny and expletive-free - have been engaging viewing., externalThe Lions are another level. There is more scrutiny, and fewer home he approaches the pinnacle though, Itoje has perhaps, about the hair."I hope not," he smiles when asked about the prospect of accidentally acquiring a mullet down under."That would be quite bad."
The Independent
20 minutes ago
- The Independent
Weather map: Temperatures could soar to 35C as Britons swelter in heatwave
The UK is set for another day of sweltering conditions, with temperatures due to hit 35C as an amber heat health alert has been extended across the country. Much of England will enter a fifth day of a heatwave on Tuesday, forecast to be hotter than holiday spots in Barbados, Jamaica and Mexico. Sunday reached 31C in parts of southeast England, but Tuesday will be even hotter, with highs of 35C in London and the south east, according to the Met Office. It comes as Monday saw scorching highs of 34C across central and eastern England. Temperatures in Barbados are set to peak at 31C on Monday and Tuesday, according to the Met Office. Even Gibraltar is set to be cooler than the UK with balmy temperatures of 28C on Tuesday. It comes as an amber heat health alert, covering London, the East Midlands, South East, South West, Yorkshire and Humber, the West Midlands and East of England, is in place until 9am on Wednesday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also issued a yellow alert for the North West for the same time period, with the agency warning of significant impacts across health and social care services. An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. Wimbledon experienced its hottest opening day on record on Monday as temperatures reached 32.9C in Kew Gardens on Monday. The previous warmest opening day on record was on 25 June 2001, when temperatures hit 29.3C. Tropical nights are also in store for many, with temperatures overnight not dropping below 20C, said the Met Office's chief operational meteorologist Matt Lehnert. Fresher air is then expected to move in from the west in the middle of the week, bringing an end to the heatwave. The hottest day of 2025 so far was recorded on 21 June in Charlwood, Surrey, when temperatures hit 33.2C. London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Thomas Goodall warned of wildfires in the capital during the sweltering heatwave. So far this year, firefighters have responded to 14 wildfires in London, and there have been 'countless callouts' to smaller fires involving grass, trees and in other outdoor spaces. He urged the public to 'act responsibly' to prevent fires. There will be a 'marked difference' in northwestern parts of the UK, however, with cloud and heavy rain in parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland, where temperatures will stay in the mid to high teens, Mr Lehnert said. Meanwhile, continental Europe is on high alert as it faces its first major heatwave of the summer, with temperatures expected to climb as high as 42C. Aemet, Spain 's national weather agency, issued a special warning, forecasting highs of up to 42C in the country's southern regions in the coming days. In neighbouring Portugal, around two-thirds of the country will be placed under high alert on Sunday due to extreme temperatures and the risk of wildfires. Lisbon could see highs of 42C. In Italy, where cities such as Naples and Palermo are bracing for 39C heat, the regions of Sicily and Liguria have introduced bans on outdoor work during the hottest parts of the day.
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
Europe heatwave: Spain summer heat breaks records as 50,000 flee Turkey wildfires
Firefighters battled wildfires in Turkey, forcing the evacuation of more than 50,000 residents, as an early summer heatwave hit Europe and put Spain on course for its hottest June on record. Health alerts were issued in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Germany as well as in England and Wales. Even the Netherlands, used to a milder climate, issued a warning for high temperatures in the coming days coupled with high humidity. 'Large parts of western Europe are experiencing extreme heat and heatwave conditions that are normally observed in July or August, rather than June,' said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service. Temperatures in some locations were between five and 10 degrees Celsius warmer than they would typically be at this time of year, she said. New highs are expected on Wednesday, before rain is forecast to bring respite to some areas later this week. 'Extreme heat is no longer a rare event – it has become the new normal,' tweeted UN secretary general Antonio Guterres. 'The planet is getting hotter & more dangerous – no country is immune.' In Portugal – Mr Guterres's home country – a temperature reading in Mora, about 60 miles east of Lisbon, turned up a suspected record-high June temperature of 46.6 C (115.9F) on Sunday. In Turkey, wildfires raged for a second day near Izmir, fanned by strong winds. More than 50,000 people have been evacuated from five regions, including more than 42,000 in Izmir, according to the country's emergency management authority, AFAD. In France, where temperatures are expected to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday, wildfires burned in the southwestern Aude department, where temperatures topped 40C, destroying 400 hectares and forcing the evacuation of a campsite and an abbey. Weather service Meteo France put a record 84 of the country's 101 departments on an orange heatwave alert until midweek. Spain is on course for its hottest June on record, the national meteorological service AEMET said. 'Over the next few days, at least until Thursday, intense heat will continue in much of Spain,' said Ruben del Campo, a spokesperson for the weather agency. In Seville, where global leaders gathered for a United Nations conference, temperatures hit 42C. 'It's awful,' municipal worker Bernabe Rufo said as he cleaned a fountain. 'We need to be looking for shade constantly.' In Italy, the health ministry issued heatwave red alerts for 16 cities, including Rome and Milan. Lombardy is planning to ban open-air work during the hottest part of the day in response to a request from trade unions. In Germany, too, heat warnings were in place across large parts of western and southwestern regions, where temperatures climbed to 34C. Authorities appealed to consumers to limit their use of water. The heatwave has lowered the water level of the River Rhine, hampering shipping and raising freight costs for cargo owners, commodity traders said. German and French baseload power prices surged as the heatwave led to increased demand for air conditioning. Globally, extreme heat kills up to 480,000 people annually, surpassing the combined toll from floods, earthquakes and hurricanes, and poses growing risks to infrastructure, the economy and healthcare systems, insurance company Swiss Re said earlier this month.
