Heat Disrupts Qualifiers
Wimbledon Qualifiers Halted by Extreme Heat and Technical Faults at Roehampton and Eastbourne
Key Points
In Eastbourne, Wimbledon qualifying was suspended after heat disrupted the electronic line-calling system across the grounds, with officials confirming that no further play would start again until 1pm local time.
Wimbledon’s heat policy uses a heat-stress index threshold of 30.1C (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature); when reached, players may take a 10-minute break, with the break occurring between the 2nd and 3rd sets for women’s singles and between the 3rd and 4th sets for men’s singles, and measurements taken 30 minutes before play, at 2pm and at 5pm.
An electrical fault at Roehampton caused play to be halted for around 20 minutes and led to an evacuation, with resumption not expected before about 2pm local time, amid the day’s exceptionally high temperatures.
The broader weather picture featured red weather warnings across southern England and forecasts of near-40C heat, prompting safety cautions for players and spectators; Dan Evans was among the qualifiers taking part that day.
Wimbledon qualifying ground to a halt on June 24 as a brutal UK heatwave knocked out the electronic line-calling system at both Roehampton and Eastbourne, forcing match suspensions and partial evacuations. A separate electrical fault at Roehampton added to the chaos, halting play for around 20 minutes and pushing resumption back to roughly 2pm local time, according to The Independent.
The disruption came as the Met Office issued a rare red weather warning across southern England, with temperatures hitting 33°C at the courts and forecasts of near-40°C by Thursday. Wales Online reported that BBC commentator Annabel Croft described the heat as "wreaking havoc with the electronic line calling system all around the ground."
Electronic Line-Calling System Collapses Under Extreme Heat
At around 12:15 BST, the automated line-calling system failed simultaneously across multiple courts at both venues. In Eastbourne, officials announced no further play would start until 1pm local time. At Roehampton, the failure was compounded by an electrical fault that triggered a partial evacuation, moving players and spectators to shaded areas to prevent heatstroke, The Independent reported.
Wimbledon switched to fully automated line-calling in 2025, removing human line judges entirely. This marked the first time the system collapsed due to heat-related hardware failure in the UK, according to Essentially Sports. Tennis analyst José Morgado noted the ELC stopped working specifically because of heat-driven power malfunctions. Critics pointed out the tournament had no backup plan — no reserve pool of human officials — when the technology failed.
Dan Evans Caught Mid-Match as Temperature Hits 33°C
Former British No. 1 Dan Evans, 36, was in the middle of his match against Australia's Tristan Schoolkate when the system went down. Wales Online reported he was seen using ice packs courtside while waiting for an official ruling. Evans is playing in what is expected to be his final professional season, making him one of the oldest competitors in the qualifying draw.
Air temperature at the courts reached 33°C, while the nearby Wisley weather station recorded 34.6°C on Tuesday — the highest June temperature in that area since 1976, per live research data. Surface temperatures on the courts would have been significantly higher. Some experts argued that the standard 10-minute heat break rule is not enough when conditions get this extreme.
Wimbledon's Heat Rule Explained: The 30.1°C Trigger
Wimbledon uses a measure called the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, or WBGT. It factors in air temperature, humidity, wind, and sun angle. When WBGT hits 30.1°C, players can take a 10-minute break — between the 2nd and 3rd sets for women, and between the 3rd and 4th sets for men. Officials measure it 30 minutes before play, then again at 2pm and 5pm, according to The Independent.
On June 24, conditions quickly pushed toward and past that threshold. The AELTC said player and spectator safety was the "top priority." But with the ELC system down and an electrical fault cutting power, the heat rule became almost secondary — matches simply could not continue regardless of any official break policy.
Red Warning Heatwave Threatens Main Draw Schedule
The Met Office red warning came into force at 9am BST, covering London, Eastbourne, and much of southern England. Forecasters warned temperatures could approach 40°C on Thursday, June 25. The UK Health Security Agency issued a parallel "red heat health alert," warning of a "risk to life even for the healthy population." Roughly 94 million Europeans were experiencing temperatures above 35°C on the same day.
The timing puts pressure on the main draw schedule. Qualifying finals must be settled before the draw is finalized on Friday, June 26, with the main championships set to begin Monday, June 29. Essentially Sports noted that further delays could force matches onto indoor courts or push qualifying into the weekend, creating a logistical headache for tournament organizers already fielding questions about ticket refunds and spectator safety.
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