Hottest-ever start to Wimbledon with 29.7C recorded
This year's Wimbledon tennis championships has begun with the hottest opening day on record, according to the Met Office.
Temperatures reached a provisional high of 29.7C at Kew Gardens in west London on Monday afternoon, surpassing the previous record of 29.3C set in June 2001.
Temperatures have risen to 29.7C at Kew Gardens, so it is provisionally warmest start to Wimbledon on record 🎾 pic.twitter.com/Icf5CCWZdZ
— Met Office (@metoffice) June 30, 2025
Spectators queued from the early hours to enter the All England Club in south-west London, with many using fans, umbrellas and sunscreen to cope with the heat.
Vicki Broad, 57, a retired nurse from Swansea, who was the first person in the queue, said: 'The sun has been tough but we're in the shade now.'
Paul Jackson, from Stockport, told the PA news agency: 'We were a bit worried about the heat, but it's been manageable.'
'We've been drinking water, wearing hats, and making the most of the shade.'
The competition has drawn crowds from across the globe – some managing the weather better than others.
Maria Iniesta, 47, a physician from Madrid living in Houston, joked: 'It's been funny to watch the British people sweating – it's been easy for us.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
US tennis star Madison Keys suffers embarrassing blooper at Wimbledon - with fans left in stitches
American tennis star Madison Keys endured a bizarre blooper on day one of Wimbledon. Keys, 30, who hails from Illinois in the US, is ranked at No 6 in the world and has enjoyed an impressive 2025 so far. Back in January, she won the Australian Open after beating Aryna Sabalenka in the final, while she also reached the quarter-finals at the French Open. The 30-year-old was drawn against Romanian star Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the first round at Wimbledon and faced off against the world No 58 on Court 2 on Monday. However, just as the first set was getting underway, Keys suffered an epic fail of a serve. With the scores level at 1-1 in the first set, Keys was 15-0 up and looking to extend her advantage. Este saque de Keys????? 😳😳😳😳😳😳😳 — José Morón (@jmgmoron) June 30, 2025 But, as she threw the ball up to serve, the American completely fluffed her shot and the ball ballooned directly into the air in unprecedented scenes. The ball then appeared to swerve as Ruse rushed to return the serve, but Key's effort had narrowly landed out. A bemused crowd could be heard chuckling away at the bizarre incident after being left shocked at what had gone on. Even the American could see the funny side of it and Keys had a big smile on her face as she prepared for her second serve. It proved to be a sloppy start to the tournament for Keys as she lost the first set to Ruse 6-7, although she bounced back to win the next two sets 7-5 7-5 to progress. The 30-year-old has reached two quarter-finals at the All England Club before, but suffered heartbreak last year when she was two points from beating Jasmine Paolini in the fourth round when she was forced to retire from the match after tearing her hamstring. And speaking last week, Keys outlined her desire to make up for that this time around. 'Hopefully this is the year I make it past the quarters because Wimbledon has always been something that I dreamed of,' she told The Guardian. 'It has this aura which means that, I think, for all tennis players it's the tournament.'
.jpg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26height%3D800%26crop%3D1200%3A800&w=3840&q=100)
The Independent
22 minutes ago
- The Independent
Carlos Alcaraz stutters to opening Wimbledon win in five-set epic against Fabio Fognini
It's doubtful Carlos Alcaraz will need to be told. If the effervescent, at times mesmerising, 22-year-old Spaniard wants to claim his third consecutive Wimbledon title, he'll have to play a damn sight better than he did here on day one. For tennis's hottest property, this was a stutter of a start. Gasps were aplenty at last Friday's draw ceremony when wily old fox Fabio Fognini was picked to face the defending champion. The old-school maverick is entering his final months on tour and, at the age of 38, seemed a routine first round conquest for Alcaraz, himself on an 18-match win-streak following his French Open triumph against Jannik Sinner. Yet the inspired Italian thrived in a final big-match moment here, conducting the 15,000 in attendance with a brash arrogance even if, in the end, he came up short. Ultimately, Alcaraz prevailed in five captivating sets, emerging triumphant via a 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 scoreline, over four-and-a-half hours, on the hottest opening day in Wimbledon history. New knights of the realm Gareth Southgate and David Beckham endured their fair share of unconvincing victories in England colours and they witnessed another one here, perched in the front row of the Royal Box. 'I don't know why it's his last Wimbledon, the level we just saw... he could play another four years,' said Alcaraz of his opponent afterwards. 'He's a great player, the talent he has... I'm just a bit sad that it's his last Wimbledon. Happy to have shared the court with him. 'It's never easy, I've been practicing very well. I could feel the difference between Wimbledon and the other tournaments. I would say I can be better... I have to improve.' The second seed now faces British qualifier Oliver Tarvet, the world No 733, in a dream encounter for the University of San Diego college player in round two on Wednesday. And frankly, against a player on a terrific run on the grass, Alcaraz will need to vastly improve. To say Alcaraz started his three-peat quest – upon entering Centre Court in a pristine Roger Federer-esque white cardigan – off-beat would be an understatement. Fognini, a former top-10 player now ranked down at 138, saw five break point chances come and go early on, in a first set where Alcaraz failed to find any rhythm at all on his usually potent forehand. Yet while Alcaraz's unforced error count racked up, 16 by the end of the set, by crunch time at 5-5, he found his mark. Luring in his 38-year-old opponent with a drop-shot on break point, Alcaraz almost cruelly lobbed a flailing Fognini with a volley to seal a break of serve. A quickfire hold to love followed, setting the wheels in motion. Fognini, a colourful but often controversial character, has endured a pretty torrid relationship with Wimbledon, since his debut here in 2008. Something of a clay court specialist, he has never gone beyond the third round in 14 attempts and, in 2019, was lambasted from all quarters after wishing a 'bomb would explode at the club', cursing the 'damned English' in the process. The Italian quickly apologised and was fined a then-record £21,000, but one suspects the suits at the All England Club won't be sad to see the back of the madcap Italian when he retires later this year. Even if, much like Monday, he is capable of strokes of genius on court. The Italian fought admirably here, making for an entertaining opening salvo on Centre Court. While Alcaraz's usual explosiveness deserted him – in fact, he was erratically inconsistent – Fognini whipped and pranced his way to a second set tie-break. Then, Alcaraz wilted and though Fognini spurned three set points, the Spaniard incomprehensibly went wide with a routine forehand passing shot at 6-5. Fognini, with a wry smile, was as stunned as everyone else. Yet the third set was this match's peak. With Alcaraz serving for it at 5-3, Fognini won the point of the match at deuce, hitting an unorthodox smash as he twisted backwards, following it up with a backhand volley winner. It had both men bent over in exhaustion, to the tune of roars in the stands. Alcaraz went wide on the forehand to gift a break. But right then, three hours in, something jolted Alcaraz into action. Finally finding his range, Alcaraz secured the third set with a trademark forehand rush into the net, Fognini slapping his pass into the net. A clenched fist from Alcaraz at the net radiated relief. Surely, now, Alcaraz would romp to victory? Seemingly not. Fognini found a second wind and, deservedly, clinched two breaks in the fourth set as Alcaraz borderline imploded. This was the world No 2 at his most flat, short of adrenaline and drive, with his Wimbledon hopes hanging by a thread. Only twice in men's singles history – Lleyton Hewitt in 2003 and Manuel Santana in 1967 – has the defending champion lost in the Wimbledon first round but, heading into a fifth set, the near-impossible was emerging into existence. However Alcaraz, as he so often does in clutch moments, kicked himself drastically into gear. He secured an early break in the fifth and - after a 15-minute stoppage for a spectator falling ill in the stands - went a double break up as Fognini faded, shanking a forehand long. At the end of a match which fell just 52 minutes short of his Paris epic against Sinner, Alcaraz emerged the victor. Fognini basked in the acclaim of the crowd as he left this stage for the last time. Alcaraz departed Centre Court, pointing humbly at his knackered opponent, a relieved man.
Glasgow Times
23 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Tearful Ons Jabeur retires from Wimbledon match due to breathing difficulties
The 30-year-old, who has endured a torrid time with injuries, required a medical timeout in the first set of the contest on Court 14. Having been in clear distress, she managed to play on in scorching temperatures before withdrawing while trailing 7-6 (5) 2-0 to Bulgarian world number 111 Tomova. Viktoriya Tomova led 7-6 (5) 2-0 (John Walton/PA) Jabeur, who was beaten in the 2022 and 2023 finals at SW19, has plummeted to 59 in the rankings amid ongoing fitness setbacks. A shoulder issue led to a premature end to her 2024 season and, just three months into her return, she hobbled off court in tears at this year's Miami Open after suffering a leg strain. Tournament organisers later confirmed the Tunisian had experienced breathing issues. 'I wasn't expecting not to feel good, I've been practising pretty well the last few days but I guess these things happen and I'm pretty sad,' said Jabeur. Heartbreak for Ons Jabeur 💔 The two-time Wimbledon finalist was in tears as she retired from her first round match against Viktoriya Tomova 😭#Wimbledon — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 30, 2025 'It doesn't really help me with my confidence. I keep pushing myself, even though it was a very tough season for me, so I hope I can feel better and see what's going to happen.' World number one Aryna Sabalenka eased into the second round by defeating Canadian grand slam debutant Carson Branstine in straight sets. The three-time major winner cruised through the opening set on Court One before securing a decisive break in game 11 of a closer second en route to a 6-1 7-5 success. Belarusian Sabalenka, who missed last year's championship due to a shoulder injury and has never been past the semi-finals, could meet British number one Emma Raducanu in round three. The world No.1 is off to a winning start 💪 Aryna Sabalenka defeats Carson Branstine 6-1, 7-5#Wimbledon — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 30, 2025 'I'm super happy to be back, to be healthy and to compete at this beautiful tournament,' she said in her on-court interview. 'I was really depressed last year that I couldn't feel this atmosphere and I'm super happy with the performance. I feel like I'm in a good place.' Australian Open champion Madison Keys avoided an upset by coming from a set down to scrape past Elena-Gabriela Ruse. The 30-year-old American sixth seed prevailed 6-7 (4) 7-5 7-5.
