French Open heat 33C alters play, triggers medical timeouts

Temperatures at the French Open have reached 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) during the opening two days of the clay court Grand Slam, a level of heat that players say they have not experienced at Roland Garros since the 2024 Paris Olympics. The unusually hot weather, well above normal for late May in Paris, is forecast to continue through the entire first week of the tournament.

The conditions have created faster court speeds, altering the pace of play and forcing competitors to adjust their games. Four time French Open champion Iga Swiatek said after her first round win that the environment is much different from what she is used to Roland Garros. She noted that while it may have been similarly hot during the Olympics, the balls were different, making it a distinct challenge. “You literally could put your whole body and whole power into the ball, and you would still feel like you control it,” Swiatek said of cooler conditions. “Now you need much more, like, touch, and you can't go too much.”

Players have been placing bags of ice around their necks during changeovers to stay cool, while fans have sought relief under sprinklers. When workers water the clay courts...