Tennis players at the French Open are experiencing the hottest conditions at Roland Garros since the Paris Olympics. The 2024 Olympics were held in July and August. During the first two days of the clay-court Grand Slam, temperatures have climbed to 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit). This heat is unusual for late May in Paris and is expected to continue for the entire first week.
The high temperatures not only make it uncomfortable for fans and players but also affect the pace of the game. Iga Swiatek, a four-time French Open champion, commented on the differences. She mentioned the high temperatures and how the balls used during the Olympics were different, so she wouldn’t consider it the same tournament. Swiatek advanced after defeating Emerson Jones 6-1, 6-2 in the first round.
Players have resorted to putting ice around their necks during changeovers. Fans cooled off under sprinklers. Workers watering the clay courts also directed hoses at spectators who requested to be cooled. Russian-born Australian player Daria Kasatkina expressed surprise at the heat, saying it’s rare to experience such temperatures at Roland Garros.
The heat has led to some players struggling during matches. Gabriel Diallo of Canada cited the heat as the main reason for retiring from his match against James Duckworth. During a match between Andrey Rublev and Ignacio Buse, both players required medical attention. Buse needed salts added to his water, while Rublev received treatment later on. A ball girl also received medical assistance due to the heat.
The French Open usually has cooler weather compared to the Australian and U.S. Opens. However, like in those tournaments, the French Open has an extreme weather policy. If the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) hits 30.1 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher, a 10-minute cooling break is allowed during women’s matches between the second and third sets and men’s matches between the third and fourth sets. If the WBGT reaches 32.2 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit), play is suspended. This suspension would need the air temperature to reach about 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit).
Some players benefit from the heat. Alex de Minaur of Australia enjoys the hotter conditions on clay, enabling more aggressive play. In another match, American player Alex Michelsen, who defeated Alexander Shevchenko in straight sets, said the fast-moving conditions favor players with a strong serve and offense, particularly Americans.
Both de Minaur and Michelsen expressed satisfaction with the forecasts given their playing styles.