Paris Records Hottest May Day, French Open Players Face Dual Challenges of Fitness and Court Conditions

PARIS (CNA) - Paris is currently experiencing unusually hot weather. Players participating in the French Open are not only overcoming the pressure of clay courts and Grand Slam tournaments but also struggling to maintain their best form under high temperatures. According to The Guardian, temperatures in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris, reached 33 degrees Celsius today, and players had to find their best feel while clearly feeling uncomfortable. This heatwave is expected to last throughout the first week of the tournament. Australian player Daria Kasatkina said, "I don't remember the last time Roland Garros was this hot. Maybe there was one day that was particularly hot, but it seems like we will be in this condition all week." Although today's high temperatures were not accompanied by high humidity, and thus did not cause severe discomfort for many players, the challenges on the court remain significant. Kasatkina said, "When you know the weather conditions for the next match, you start preparing mentally, but physically it can still be very, very difficult. You can see the state of both players fluctuating during the match. Sometimes you just stand up from your chair and suddenly find your concentration dropping, which is also part of the game." Clay courts also exhibit vastly different characteristics due to weather changes, which is particularly evident at Roland Garros. In the past, players often complained that in humid, cold weather or night matches, heavier match balls and court conditions caused the ball speed to become very slow. High temperatures make clay courts faster, which is more favorable for serving, active attacking, and shortening rallies. This also benefits clay-court specialists because the ball bounces higher and heavy topspin shots become more powerful. Polish star Iga Swiatek said, "When we first arrived, the temperature was about 16 degrees, the ball was particularly heavy, and you could put all your strength into the ball and still feel like you could control it. Now you need a more delicate touch, and you can't overexert yourself. Also, it's easier to hit lobs and spin shots now, and the ball bounces faster, so I think it gives you more of an advantage. But first, you have to control the ball because its flight speed is faster, and it's easier to hit it out." According to AFP, the French meteorological agency stated that the 25th of this month set a record for the hottest May day since records began, and temperatures are expected to be even higher on the 26th. The meteorological agency said, "Looking at France as a whole, the 25th was the hottest day in May since weather records began." Weather forecasts indicate that maximum temperatures in many regions will reach 33 to 36 degrees, and this heatwave may last at least until this weekend.