LONDON — The world’s number one, Jannik Sinner, is set to showcase his skills in an exhibition match on Wednesday, coinciding with a severe heat wave, just weeks after experiencing a dizzying upset in the second round of the French Open.
Sinner is gearing up to compete against Cameron Norrie in the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic, while southern England is under a “red warning” for extreme heat from the national weather service.
In Fulham, where the match is taking place, temperatures are projected to soar to a steamy 33°C in the early afternoon.
The reigning Wimbledon champion wore a specially designed cooling vest during his practice session earlier at the All England Club.
In Paris, Sinner held a commanding lead—two sets to none and 5-1 in the third—before succumbing to Juan Manuel Cerundolo with a score of 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1. The temperature during the match climbed to 32°C, leaving Sinner visibly struggling as he reached for multiple ice packs to stay cool.
Despite his history with heat and cramps, Sinner refrained from placing all the blame on the conditions after his defeat. “There were many factors that contributed to this issue. I just need some time to reflect on what went awry,” he remarked.
Last year at Wimbledon, Sinner triumphed over Carlos Alcaraz in the final, clinching his first title with a scoreline of 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Unfortunately, Alcaraz will not participate in this year’s tournament due to a wrist injury.
The U.K. weather service has advised people to “stay out of the sun and refrain from any strenuous activity between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the sun is at its peak.”
They forecast a “two to three-day stretch” where temperatures could surpass 37°C in the shade, possibly soaring to between 38°C and 40°C in certain areas. This extreme heat paired with high humidity could lead to heightened discomfort and health risks, with very warm nights complicating recovery.
Wimbledon is set to kick off on Monday, with expected temperatures around 24°C.
