
As the blazing sun beats down on Wimbledon, spare a thought for the men as they sweat it out on court.

Because they will have to carry on with their matches however hot it is – while the women can take a break to cool off.

Cue an inevitable volley of cries of sexism over the rules at the All England Club.

Enjoying the sun: The first day of Wimbledon has served up sweltering conditions for spectators – and forecasters have warned there is more heat to come. Temperatures are forecast to soar beyond 36C as the week goes on

Johanna Konta (right) was the first Briton to go out of the tournament when she was beaten in straight sets by Maria Sharapova (left) on Centre Court

Time for a quick lie down: Fans have been sweltering in 27C of Wimbledon heat – and temperatures are set to reach 36C as the week continues

Tennis fans looked to protect themselves from the sun by any means necessary, with one woman covering her nose with a tissue (pictured left). Others wore hats (right) showing their support for home hero Andy Murray, who begins his championship challenge on Tuesday

Thousands of tennis fans have been pictured basking in the summer sun today, with many favouring a spot of sunbathing on Murray Mound over the tournament's opening match-ups

Sweltering heat: Some even took to covering their faces with hats as they laid back on the grass and snoozed in the afternoon sun

Such are the fears of extreme heat throughout the week that tournament organisers have begun drawing up emergency plans to treat heat-exhausted fans and players

During the course of the two-week long championship, tennis fans are expected to consume 28,000kg of strawberries, 7,000 litres of cream and 350,000 cups of tea and coffee

Spectators relax in the sun on Murray Mound, with many laying out picnic blankets to enjoy matches on the large television screen

The Women’s Tennis Association says that ladies playing singles matches should be allowed a ten-minute break if it becomes unbearably hot on court.

The cooling-off period should take place between the second and third set when the heat stress index – a measure which takes into account air temperature, humidity and surface temperature – is at or above 30.1C (86F).

However, the men’s game has no equivalent rule – and the All England Club is under no obligation to create one.

Asked why there was no heat break for men, a spokesman said the decision was in the hands of the separate governing bodies of men’s and women’s tennis.

Australian supporters can be seen cheering on Lleyton Hewitt, playing in his final Wimbledon. Hewitt was up against Jarkko Nieminen

Lie back and relax: Visitors to Wimbledon today took a break from the tennis action to lay down on the grass and do a bit of sunbathing

Britain's Andy Murray does not get his championship challenge underway until tomorrow, but when he does he faces the prospect of having to beat the weather as well as his opponent Mikhail Kukushkin

Kicking back: Tennis fans have been lapping up the sun on the opening day of Wimbledon today. Some spectators even had a quick snooze

Spectators have been taking advantage of the hot weather which has greeted the start of the two-week long tournament in south-west London

Arrival: Huge crowds made their way through the grounds of Wimbledon this morning as the tournament opened its gates for the first day

Early start: Many people camped overnight so that they could be among the first in the queue to get tickets for the opening day at Wimbledon

Andy Murray, who kicks off his Wimbledon campaign against Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan today, has previously complained about the heat rule.

After the Australian Open in 2014, when temperatures reached 42C (108F), causing one player to vomit and a ball boy to collapse, Murray said: ‘I don’t know why there are different rules. If there’s a medical reason for it, then I’m fine with it. If there isn’t, I’m not.’

But five-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams dismissed concerns about the hot weather after breezing past Russian Margarita Gasparyan in the first round yesterday. Asked about the warm weather expected at SW19, she said: ‘Yeah, it is going to be very hot. But I don’t think I’ve ever played in 34, 35 [celsius] here.

'YOU CAN HAVE A BREAK, BUT ONLY IF YOU'RE A WOMAN': THE WIMBLEDON RULE IN SCORCHING TEMPERATURES Italian tennis player Flavia Pennetta in action against Zarina Diyas. Female tennis players will be allowed a break in the heat, but not the men Tennis players struggling in the searing heat at Wimbledon will be allowed to ask for breaks during their matches - but only if they are women. With temperatures set to soar at SW19 this week - when the mercury is set to reach 33C on Wednesday - organisers said female players can ask for a time-out when the 'heat stress index' reaches 30.1C. The heat rule allows the ten-minute break between the second and third set but it only applies to ladies' and girls' singles matches that have not yet been called to court, the All England Club said. Asked why the rule did not apply to male players, a spokeswoman for the All England Club said the decision was in the hands of the separate governing bodies of men's and women's tennis. The Met Office has forecast glorious sunshine for the first three days of the tournament - with some reports suggesting temperatures could reach as high as 36C on Wednesday. Spectators may need their umbrellas on Thursday, however, when there is a risk of thunderstorms. For the heat rule to be implemented during the women's draw, one of the female players taking part in the match must request the break. The heat stress index is a measure of the air temperature, the humidity and the surface temperature. Readings are taken 30 minutes before the start of play and then at 2pm and 5pm, the All England Club said. Advertisement

Spectators arrived in their droves for the start of the first day's play. Temperatures could hit a sizzling 36C (97F) at SW19 this week – but there will be no relief for those in Centre Court, as Wimbledon bosses say its retractable roof will not be used to provide shade from the searing heat

Spectators took their place on Murray Mound at the start of day one of the Wimbledon championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club

Celebrities have been out in force on the opening day of Wimbledon. One Direction's Niall Horan is pictured enjoying the match between Novak Djokovic and Philipp Kohlschreiber on Centre Court

Watching on: Radio 1 presenter Jameela Jamil was also seen in the crowd as the first round match-ups got underway at Wimbledon

Singer Ella Eyre (pictured left) and actress Gemma Chan (right) were seen out and about in the grounds of Wimbledon for the opening day

Spectators listen to instructions from a steward as they wait to be let into the grounds after arriving for the first day's play this morning

World number one Novak Djokovic had his match with Philipp Kohlschreiber interrupted by a small visitor looking for a bird's eye view

CALM DOWN LIAM, IT'S ONLY THE FIRST ROUND: GB PLAYER'S EXTRAVAGANT REACTION AFTER FIRST ROUND WIN With a mighty roar of triumph, he looks as though he has just won the entire tournament. This was the moment Great Britain’s Liam Broady, who ranks 182th in the world, won his first Grand Slam match yesterday. And he can surely be forgiven for his extravagant reaction – as he almost doubled his total career earnings in one fell swoop. The 21-year-old, who started last year ranked all the way down in 470th position, had previously earned £62,795, but has now boosted that by £47,000 in prize money through his impressive win over Australian Marinko Matosevic. This was the moment Great Britain’s Liam Broady, who ranks 182th in the world, won his first Grand Slam match yesterday Afterwards, he was embraced by his team and family, including his older sister Naomi, who is also a tennis player. But there was one person missing from his entourage – his father Simon, 55. The pair have not spoken for years after a row about Lawn Tennis Association funding. Mr Broady senior sold the family home to pay for his children’s tennis coaching after Naomi, now 25, was stripped of her LTA funding in 2007 for posting racy photographs online. But three years ago Liam was offered financial support from the LTA and decided to take it. He said yesterday that he didn’t think his success at Wimbledon would thaw relations with his father, but added: ‘It was fantastic to have my sister there and the rest of my family watching. That’s what makes it more special.’ Naomi, who reached the second round last year, lost out yesterday to Colombian Mariana Duque-Marino. Last night Mr Broady senior stayed tight-lipped about the family feud, but said: ‘Obviously I’m chuffed to bits for both of them but it would have been nice to have a win for Naomi.’ Advertisement

‘But I do in other countries. I just was training in Florida. It was like 42 degrees. I mean, this will be OK.’ Former Wimbledon winner Maria Sharapova – who knocked out Britain’s Johanna Konta yesterday – admitted she did not know the rule existed, but said she did not think it was unfair.

‘I think if it’s something that they’re concerned about it, they can re-evaluate,’ she said. ‘If it does get quite hot for us, we’re able to use it, then why not?’

Women and men have received equal pay at Wimbledon since 2007, even though the women play only best-of-three-set matches compared to the men’s five.

The Met Office has issued a Level 2 health alert for much of England from midday tomorrow until 6am on Thursday (left) as forecasters predict temperatures will soar to 30C before rising to a sweltering 32C on Wednesday. Right: Graphic shows high pollen count across the UK today

Forecasters predict the mercury will soar to 30C tomorrow before hitting a sweltering 32C on Wednesday, which could bring a risk of thunder

Getting ready: Tennis fans line up to enter Wimbledon as the two-week long tournament gets underway today amid fears that extreme heat will play havoc for players and supporters. Organisers have begun drawing up emergency plans to treat those suffering from heat exhaustion

Looking forward to some strawberries: Almost 30,000 bottles of champagne, 12,000 boxes of strawberries and 230,000 glasses of Pimm's will be consumed throughout the tournament

Out in force: Security officers patrolled the grounds with sniffer dogs. Police stationed at SW19 over the weekend were on high alert after David Cameron warned that Britain faced a ‘severe terrorist threat’ following the Tunisian attacks

Let's go: Play got underway from 11.30am this morning. Britain's Liam Broady was in action against Marinko Matosevic of Australia (pictured)

Match-up: Argentinian Diego Schwartzman (pictured) went head to head with Nick Kyrgios from Australia in the first round of Wimbledon today

Forecasters have predicted sweltering highs of 36C (97F) at SW19 this week, prompting fears that many spectators will be left suffering from heatstroke.

Yesterday, part of the roof on Centre Court was closed to protect spectators in the Royal Box from the glare of the sun, while the All England Club issued advice on how to stay cool. But organisers have ruled out closing the roof completely so the benefits of the air conditioning system can be felt, saying: ‘The Championships is an outdoor daytime event’.

The hottest day ever recorded at the tournament was 34.6C back in 1976. Bookmaker Paddy Power is offering 2/1 that the record is smashed this year.

Concentration: Victoria Azarenka, from Belarus, went up against Estonian Anett Kontaveit as the pair battled it out for a place in the next round

World number one Djokovic (pictured left) gave fans the thumbs up before beginning his title defence on Centre Court against Philipp Kohlschreiber. Pictured right is Australian Nick Kyrgios gesturing during his match up with Diego Schwartzman

Tennis fans have been queuing up to get into Wimbledon on day one of the championships. In action today is world number on Novak Djokovic

Keen: Stella Riley (pictured left) was first in the queue for day one of the Wimbledon championships. Spectators are expected to queue to buy tickets on each day of play – with about 500 tickets available for each of the main courts. Prices vary from £28 to £160

Pristine condition: Ground staff were up early this morning preparing the courts for a day of intense action as the championships begin

A sniffer dog was used to check for explosives on Centre Court during security checks at Wimbledon in London yesterday. Police stationed at SW19 have been on high alert after David Cameron warned that Britain faced a ‘severe terrorist threat’ following the Tunisian attacks

- A school that provides ball boys and girls for Wimbledon has told parents not to allow their children to go to the championships amid fears of a terror attack.

The £15,000-a-year Hall School Wimbledon has advised that its students, who range in age from four to 16, should not attend unless they are with a parent. In an email to parents, principal Timothy Hobbs, said: ‘Recent terrorist activity appears, in part, to have been focused on the UK. The high profile of the Wimbledon Championships makes it a potential target.’

THE HEAT TOOK ITS TOLL ON THE COURT, TOO, WITH THE TOURNAMENT OFF TO ITS 'SWEARIEST' START EVER Foul-mouthed: Australian star Nick Kyrgios appeared to say 'dirty scum' during his first round match after a fiery exchange with an umpire Players were reprimanded for turning the Wimbledon air blue yesterday – risking huge fines. Five-time champion Serena Williams was given a code violation for an ‘audible obscenity’ during her first-round win. She later laughed it off, putting it down to nerves. BBC commentators had to apologise for Briton Heather Watson’s ‘colourful’ language during her first match last night, which was picked up by microphones on Court 12. Watson was losing the first set badly to her French opponent Caroline Garcia and was heard using the F-word. And Australian Nick Kyrgios was heard muttering ‘dirty scum’ after a fiery exchange with an umpire. The 20-year-old later denied the insult was aimed at umpire Mohamed Lahyani, claiming it was actually directed at himself. Briton Liam Broady, who was also handed a code violation for swearing in his match against Australian Marinko Matosevic, said he deserved the punishment but that he felt big stars get favourable treatment as they ‘shout at the top of their voices and get nothing’. Players can be fined up to £12,500 for ‘audible obscenities’. American former Wimbledon champion John McEnroe criticised the use of courtside microphones, adding: ‘The players need to be able to feel that they can express themselves. I’m sure on the soccer pitch, they’re not saying, “Hello, how are you?” Or on the rugby field.’ Advertisement

Determined: Wimbledon Park became a tiny tent city as fans gathered over the weekend to be first in the queue for tickets to see the tennis

Tennis fans were seen protecting themselves from the sun's rays, expected to become an even bigger problem as the tournament goes on

Warm-up: The prospect of a heatwave could cause problems for British hopeful Andy Murray when he plays his opening match on Tuesday

High hopes: The 28-year-old was pictured arriving for a practice session today. In-form Murray has been tipped to go all the way as he looks to repeat his title-winning run in 2013

Red hot: With three titles and 41 wins from 47 matches so far this year, it would appear Murray is at the peak of his career

Murray has spoken of his intent on landing his second Wimbledon title at SW19 this year – and has revealed he has taken advice from both Sir Alex Ferguson and Rory McIlroy. He is pictured with his coach Amelie Mauresmo