Scorching heat, faster courts test players at French Open

PARIS: Sweltering conditions during the opening week ‌of this year’s French Open have added a fresh challenge, with players including Iga Swiatek and Elina Svitolina saying success will hinge on who adapts best over the course of the tournament.
Like much of Western Europe, France is experiencing higher-than-normal temperatures in May, with the mercury climbing past 30 degrees Celsius (86°F) in Paris and baking the red clay at Roland Garros on the opening four days.
While the dry heat falls short of furnace-like conditions often seen at the Australian Open in January, it has quickened the courts and tested players by placing a premium on managing their bodies and constructing points carefully.
In hot conditions, the ball travels faster through the air and bounces higher off the ‌dry clay, ‌shortening reaction times, quickening rallies and making control tougher, especially ‌in ⁠longer exchanges as ⁠players adjust to the livelier surface.
“I think in tennis you’re used to it,” seventh seed Elina Svitolina told reporters after her efficient 6-0 6-4 win over Kaitlin Quevedo in the second round.
“Every single day is a different story. Even when you’re playing in the same tournament, you can play in the morning, you can play at night.

It’ll be completely different conditions.
“You can’t control the weather ... it’s always tricky for us.

When it’s so ⁠hot, you’re trying to survive, not only playing against the ‌opponent, but also playing against the conditions.”
Tokyo Olympics ‌champion Belinda Bencic said current court conditions suited her perfectly, after she dismantled American Caty McNally ‌6-4 6-0 and charged into the third round for the first time since ‌2022.
“The ball is flying more. I also like the heat.