WIMBLEDON
MIRACLE OF BRIT WINNER!
‘They should stop play if it gets too hot’
WIMBLEDON’S sweltering opening day left 22 tennis fans in need of medical treatment as temperatures soared to almost 30C (86F).
Ambulance crews were called to help spectators wilting under the sun after many had to queue for hours to gain entry to the All England Club.
It came amid a brewing row over whether male players should be able to use the socalled ‘heat rule’ that gives only female competitors a ten-minute break during matches.
Organisers said they have no intention of extending the rule – introduced by the Women’s Tennis Association – to men’s matches and claimed it is not their responsibility.
However, male players questioned the decision and called for it to be equally applied.
Croatian player Marin Cilic, ranked world number five, said the heat rule should apply in ‘some cases’ when humidity is high.
Peter Polansky, a Canadian player, said that it was unfair not to stop men’s matches when conditions are too hot. He added: ‘ When it gets to a certain temperature they should just stop play, like a rain delay.’
But Wimbledon chief executive Richard Lewis said that extending the ruling to the men’s competition had ‘not been discussed’.
The rule hands women the right to a tenminute break between the second and third set when the heat stress index – based on air temperature, humidity and surface temperature – hits 30.1C (86.2F).
Officials have said the roof on centre court will be partly closed to provide shade to guests in the Royal Box but the court itself will not be fully covered.
Yesterday many punters had water bottles confiscated as they did not meet requirements and there were long queues for water fountains.
The Met Office urged visitors to ‘drink plenty of water, wear hats, use suncream and make use of any shade’. It said a high of 29.1C (84.3F) was recorded yesterday, with temperatures to peak at 30C (86F) by the end of the week.