Heat wave at French Open making for faster-playing court - ESPN

PARIS — Tennis players at the French Open say they haven't experienced conditions this hot at Roland Garros since the Paris Olympics.

And the 2024 Olympics were held in July and August.

Temperatures for the opening two days of the clay-court Grand Slam have soared to 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) — far beyond normal for late May in the French capital. And it's forecast to stay that way for the entire first week.

Besides making it uncomfortable for fans and players alike, the sultry conditions have also created faster conditions on court — changing the pace of the game.

«It is much different. Maybe it was that hot in the Olympics, but the balls were different, so I wouldn't treat it as the same tournament,» four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek said after routing Emerson Jones 6-1, 6-2 in the first round Monday.

Players have been putting bags of ice around their necks on changeovers to stay cool, while fans are refreshing themselves under sprinklers.

When workers water the clay courts between sets, they have taken to directing their hoses at spectators begging to be doused, too.

«I don't remember the last time it was so hot at Roland Garros,» Russian-born Australian player Daria Kasatkina said after beating Zeynep Sonmez 6-4, 6-4. «Maybe one day. But we're going to have it for the whole week.»

Kasatkina said the energy-sapping temperatures made for more up-and-down matches.

«You can suddenly just get out of the bench and feel that your focus dropped,» she said. «So this is a battle which you have to also win.… Whoever adapts better to today's conditions gets it.»

The French Open is usually cool compared to the traditional heat at the Australian Open and US Open.

The Australian Open has a strict heat protocol