Play at Wimbledon's qualifying event was temporarily suspended on Tuesday due to a failure in the electronic line calling system, brought on by soaring temperatures and power issues at the Roehampton venue. The mercury reached 33 degrees Celsius (91.4 degrees Fahrenheit) with 51 percent humidity, prompting organizers to halt matches shortly after 12:15 p.m. Play resumed around 1:30 p.m. after the system was restored.
A statement from the All England Club (AELTC) confirmed a "temporary loss of power to part of our Qualifying venue, which meant that the electronic line calling system could not function." Power has since been restored, and the AELTC is investigating the incident, with extreme heat considered a potential factor.
This incident occurs just a year after Wimbledon transitioned to electronic line calling across all courts, a move that saw human line judges replaced. The system has experienced growing pains in its first year, with previous high-profile issues disrupting matches.
Amid the sweltering conditions, Wimbledon qualifying opted not to use ball kids for safety reasons, instead employing adult grounds crew. Temperatures in London were forecast to rise further, with the potential for official heat rules, which include cooling breaks and play suspension if the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature exceeds 32.2 degrees Celsius, to be implemented.
The ATP tour introduced new heat rules in December of the previous year, while the WTA has had regulations in place since 1992. The extreme weather has already impacted player preparations, with Novak Djokovic withdrawing from a pre-Wimbledon warm-up event at Hurlingham in west London, citing unspecified reasons, though the heatwave is suspected to have influenced his decision. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who experienced heat-related issues at the French Open, was also scheduled to play an exhibition match.
Last month's French Open saw players struggling in high temperatures, with Sinner requiring medical attention during his second-round match. The current heatwave in London is affecting multiple tournaments and player routines as the main Wimbledon championships approach.