Have a look at the Wimbledon 2023 weather forecast, know what happens if it rains in London during tennis grand slam and the rain rules
Tennis fans will be hoping that the recent rain that has impacted Wimbledon is the last they will experience during the championships in 2023.
Although the weather caused a minor delay in the Roehampton qualifiers five days before the start of the main draw, the tournament’s officials claim there is only a “small chance” that delays will occur this year.
Wimbledon 2023 rain rules and delay explained and what is the weather forecast this week now
Novak Djokovic has claimed 7 of the last 12 Wimbledon titles 🏆🐐 pic.twitter.com/APgUDb8GKr
— Eurosport (@eurosport) July 1, 2023
Even if there were a few small hiccups at Wimbledon 2022, none of them compared to the event exactly a century before when the final had to be played three days later than expected.
What happens at Wimbledon in 2023 if it rains? What are the possibilities that organisers may experience significant issues?
Does Wimbledon’s Centre Court have a roof?
2009 saw the installation of a retractable roof on Wimbledon’s famed Centre Court, a very intricate architectural feat requiring 1,000 metric tonnes of steel. The Royal Box and fans’ viewing areas can be shielded from the sun’s glare by the roof’s 214 moveable components, which can also be adjusted.
The roof, estimated to have cost between £80 million and £100 million ($98 million to $122 million), began functioning two years after a Wimbledon tournament that was severely damaged by poor weather during the first week and three years before the Olympic Games came to London. For the 2019 competition, Court No. 1 had a $86 million (£70 million) roof addition. Rain washed over a star-studded opening ceremony that included tennis icon Martina Navratilova and singer Paloma Faith, demonstrating its importance right away.
What happens on smaller courts when it rains?
A match’s impending suspension due to inclement weather is signalled to spectators by communications between match umpires and tournament authorities. If the rain starts to pour heavily, ground personnel and ball boys and ball girls scramble to cover the courts so that the grass won’t rot as the players flee quickly. Then, all that’s left to do is wait for the weather to clear up so that play can resume while it’s still bright enough. Matches are rescheduled for the next day if necessary. In a sport where momentum can be important, rain delays are infamous for altering the pace of games.
Wimbledon weather forecast 2023
Forecasters predict that there is a good chance of rain on Wimbledon’s first day in 2023. On Monday, July 4, at around 7 p.m. local time, the risk is estimated to be 40%.
The most of the day’s play should be over by then, and there’s only a 10% possibility of it happening earlier. The temperature is predicted to be between 64 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (18 and 20 degrees Celsius), with little danger of rain.
Similar temperatures will prevail on Tuesday, July 5, but there will be a higher probability of rain: 40% at 1 p.m., dropping to 30% at 4 p.m. Otherwise, the danger is no greater than 10%.
Wimbledon tickets: Are there refunds if it rains?
If there is less than an hour of play due to rain on the court for which they have purchased tickets, fans are entitled to a full refund of the face value of their tickets. If the average amount of play on the outdoor courts lasts less than an hour, the same rule applies to anyone who purchase grounds passes at the turnstiles before 5 o’clock.
If the play lasts longer than an hour but less than two hours, the refund amounts are halved. According to Wimbledon, the referee’s call on how much play has been completed is final.