The French Open is underway in Paris, but the players are having to adjust to more than just their opponents.
Unseasonably hot weather has descended on Roland Garros, with temperatures reaching around 34C.
The biggest challenge has been the change in court conditions.
Faster Conditions Test Players
World number one Aryna Sabalenka noted the drastic change: “When I first got here, it was 14 degrees – like, freezing. Now it’s boiling hot, balls are flying and everything is much faster.”
The heatwave is a result of a “heat dome”, the warm air from northern Africa trapped under a high-pressure system over western Europe.
The sun hardens the clay, creating a faster surface that favours bigger servers and more aggressive returners.
When conditions are cold and potentially damp, the balls are heavier and slower, giving players more control.
Swiatek and Tsitsipas See an Advantage
Four-time women’s champion Iga Swiatek, who recently spent time with Rafael Nadal on the practice court, benefits from a similar style.
“It’s a bit easier to play higher and with spin. The ball is bouncing off the court faster, so that gives you more advantage,” she said. “But first you need to have control over the ball, because it is playing faster in the air and it’s easier to put it out.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas believes the added bounce could help as he looks to revive his stalling career.
“The heat gives me a little bit of an extra edge,” said Tsitsipas. “It allows me to have a more lively ball and I feel like my strengths are amplified in those sort of conditions.”
Medvedev Struggles as Gauff Cools Down
Russian sixth seed Daniil Medvedev said he was not physically affected by the heat in his first-round exit against Australia’s Adam Walton, but his game is not as well suited to the livelier conditions.
Medvedev generally hits flatter with his groundstrokes, meaning the ball stays lower on the clay and allows his opponents to return more comfortably.
Like most players, Coco Gauff used bags of ice to cool down during her French Open first-round match.
- The French Open has begun with temperatures around 34C.
- The heat is changing the court conditions, making them faster.
- Some players, like Swiatek and Tsitsipas, believe the conditions suit their game.
The scorching sun has not hampered too many players physically, with bags of ice and high-tech portable fans keeping them cool on court.