Wimbledon sprang into life on Monday as the world's oldest tennis tournament opened its gates to thousands of spectators who had queued up for hours in the gentle morning sunshine.

Latecomers can expect more challenging conditions with a heatwave likely to peak when the action begins at the All England Club in what meteorologists predict could be the hottest start to the Championships in history.

The mercury is expected to rise, eclipsing the previous record temperature for the start of the grasscourt Grand Slam in 2001 when players, organisers and ticket-holders were tested by the 29.3 degrees Celsius reading.

Conditions could be more reminiscent of the Australian Open furnace if the heat surpasses Wimbledon's tournament record of 35.7 degrees in 2015.

"Obviously, it's a very warm day," All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton told reporters.

"The first point to make is that the athletes compete in temperatures like this all year on the tour. So for us Brits at the Championships, it feels very hot.

"We do have the heat rule available to us, which again is well used on the tour. So we will be taking heat stress monitor readings half-an-hour before play, at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. today."

Under Wimbledon's heat rule, players are allowed a 10-minute break when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is at or above 30.1 degrees Celsius.

One player who usually enjoys the sunshine is defending men's champion Carlos Alcaraz, and the Spaniard begins his bid for a third straight Wimbledon title against Italian veteran Fabio Fognini on Centre Court.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka plays Canadian Carson Branstine on Court One, where big crowds are expected with local Jacob Fearnley playing Brazilian Joao Fonseca before the All-British clash between Emma Raducanu and Mimi Xu.

With the eyes of the world on the tournament and a pro-Palestinian protest taking place outside the grounds, organisers said security officials will be keeping a close eye on proceedings.

"We're expecting protests today, as we've had protests for most years in some way, shape or form," Bolton aid.

"That will be managed as it always is outside the grounds. We work closely with the Metropolitan Police on facilitating that. As regards flags, Palestinian flags are not banned.

"It's about ensuring those who have bought a ticket to be on the grounds have the opportunity just to enjoy the tennis."

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

FANS ENTERING WIMBLEDON ON FIRST DAY / FANS COOLING DOWN IN HEAT AS THEY QUEUE / VOXPOPS ON HEAT / FANS BUYING STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM

SHOWS: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (JUNE 30, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF FANS ENTERING WIMBLEDON AS DOORS OPEN ON FIRST DAY OF TOURNAMENT

2. SIGN READING (English) 'CENTRE COURT'

3. VARIOUS OF SECURITY DOG PANTING IN HEAT

4. SUN / FAN'S TENT AT 'THE QUEUE'

5. VARIOUS OF UNION FLAGS FLICKERING IN THE SUN

6. VARIOUS OF FREE SUN-CREAM BEING OFFERED TO FANS IN QUEUE

7. WOMAN SITTING IN QUEUE APPLYING SUN-CREAM

8. WOMAN PUTTING ON HAT

9. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SHIELDING FROM SUN WTH UMBRELLAS

10. VARIOUS OF FANS IN TENTS

11. VARIOUS OF FANS COLLECTING FREE WATER

12. VARIOUS OF FANS BUYING ICE=CREAM FROM VAN

13. VARIOUS OF FANS HOLDING UMBRELLAS AND ELECTRONIC FANS AS THEY QUEUE

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TENNIS FAN, DIRK VORGEIS, SAYING:

"Just in general it worrying it’s that kind of climate change that probably the weather is changing, but just for today we will manage."

15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TENNIS FAN, SCOTT HENDERSON, SAYING:

"Yeah well I’m struggling because I’m from Inverness (Scotland) so it never gets this warm up north so it’s about 20 degrees warmer than I'm used to and I'm sunburnt all over."

16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TENNIS FAN, ROY GREGOR, SAYING:

"Oh yeah it’s really hot I mean over the last couple or three days it’s getting hotter I mean it’s just...everything’s going to change. The kids out there are going to be struggling and no matter what they’re doing at the moment dramatic changes need to happen because you’ve just seen it going on and in and on and it’s just terrible really."

17. VARIOUS OF CENTRE COURT

18. FANS TAKING SELFIE

19. VARIOUS OF FANS BUYING STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM

20. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE EATING AND DRINKING AT BAR

21. VARIOUS OF FANS WALKING AROUND SITE

22. SIGN READING (English) 'THE CHAMPIONSHIPS WIMBLEDON'

23. VARIOUS OF PLAYERS' NAMES

24. VARIOUS OF HENMAN HILL