In the first round of Wimbledon, Alex de Minaur showcased his resilience as he defeated Roberto Carballés Baena with a score of 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7) despite the stifling heat. The temperature soared to 32 degrees Celsius, setting a record for the hottest opening day at Wimbledon, surpassing the previous high of 29.3 degrees in 2001. This extreme weather contributed to both players being visibly perspired, with de Minaur resorting to an ice towel in between sets.
During the match, de Minaur quickly established dominance, securing a double break in the opening set. However, he faced challenges in the last game of that set, which went to deuce before he managed to close it out. The second set followed a similar narrative, marked by de Minaur’s comprehensive play, earning him another set by the same scoreline.
The third set proved more arduous for the Australian, as Baena pushed back, winning four games before de Minaur finally broke his serve and attempted to claim the set at 5-4. In a twist, Baena managed to break back, forcing a tiebreak. Due to the sun’s interference, de Minaur struggled with his serve at times, leading to commentary on how the conditions affected his game. A minor delay occurred when a ball kid had to be substituted due to the heat.
Despite the difficulties, de Minaur managed to maintain his focus and eventually won the tiebreak 7-2, concluding the match in straight sets. The victory was a significant achievement under challenging conditions, setting a positive tone for his progress into the next round. Commentator Brenton Speed hailed the atmosphere as “stifling,” emphasising the impressive nature of de Minaur’s win under such intense circumstances.