With temperatures forecast to be as high as 34C, spectators as well as players must arrive at the All England Lawn Tennis Club on Monday prepared to deal with conditions more familiar at grand slams in Australia and the US. But as Wimbledon opens its doors, three weeks after a French Open men’s singles final that some regard as the best tennis match ever (Carlos Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner over five and a half hours), other warnings besides heat are known to be troubling some of the players.
Emma Raducanu has said she feels “comfortable” and “safe”, thanks to tighter security arrangements introduced after an unnamed man, who previously signed an agreement to stay away from her, was blocked from buying tickets. Earlier this year she became visibly distressed by his presence at a match in Dubai, after he approached her in person. But while this particular situation appears to have been dealt with, the wider picture regarding female players’ experiences remains troubling – as does the wider problem of online abuse in sports, including that aimed at referees.
