As record temperatures sweep through London, Wimbledon 2025 has come under scrutiny for refusing to close the £70 million retractable roof at Centre Court — despite soaring heat impacting player performance.
Polish star Iga Swiatek, who advanced to the finals, questioned the tournament’s policy, saying:
“From what I saw and heard on different tournaments, they’re usually not willing to close the roof when it’s not raining, when it’s not a necessity. I’m not sure why.”
The retractable roof, installed in 2009, takes around 10 minutes to close and has never been used to combat heat, only for rain delays. This year’s unprecedented heatwave has renewed debate on whether the All England Club should revise its policy.
American player Amanda Anisimova admitted the conditions were draining:
“I felt like I was getting tired throughout some points of the match.”
Meanwhile, Belarusian semi-finalist Aryna Sabalenka didn’t mince words, stating:
“London is not ready for this weather.”
The calls for better heat management come amid growing global conversations on athlete safety in extreme weather, with many fans and pundits echoing the players’ concerns online.
As the finals approach, all eyes remain on Wimbledon organisers to see if they adapt to the rising heat — or continue to reserve the roof only for rain.
