Wimbledon is starting on Monday (June 29). With London barely getting over a record-breaking heatwave, and tensions between players and organisers already taking centre court, what can we expect to see at this year’s British Grand Slam?

Will the heatwave impact the tournament?

Europe’s blistering heatwave has already disrupted the start to Wimbledon. Qualifying was suspended last week, as the soaring temperatures resulted in a power outage, which caused the tournament’s Electronic Line Calling (ELC) system to fail. 

Although the weather is set to cool down as Wimbledon starts, a heat rule will be in place this year, with players allowed to request a 10-minute break (15 minutes for wheelchair events) if the ‘feel like’ temperature is 30.1C or over. 

The rule, which only applies to non-covered matches, is in place to keep players safe as they sweat it out in difficult conditions. The breaks will only be taken between the second and third set for best-of-three set matches, or between the third and fourth set for best-of-five set matches. 

The tournament already encourages spectators to bring water bottles to fill up at over 100 free stations, however this messaging is likely to be increased as the safety of guests sitting out in the sun remains a key concern. 

Players left unhappy despite 20 percent payout increase

Off court, the atmosphere between players and organisers has been almost as heated. 

The total prize pot for the tournament has jumped 20 per cent to £64.2 million, ($84.72m) the single biggest year-on-year increase the All England Club has ever announced. 

Both the men's and women's singles champions will walk away with £3.6 million ($4.75m), with runners-up collecting half that at £1.8 million ($2.37m). First-round exits, once the bittersweet consolation of a Wimbledon appearance, now come with an £80,000 cheque ($105,000), a 21 per cent rise on last year.

Zoom out and the trajectory looks generous. Singles champions are earning 80 per cent more than they were a decade ago. First-round prize money has more than doubled — up 160 per cent over the same period. Qualifying payouts have grown by a remarkable 393 per cent since 2016.

Yet the world's best players are far from happy over the increases. They argue that the numbers still don't add up: with Wimbledon's revenues growing faster than its prize fund, players say the current pot represents just 14.4 per cent of projected income, below even the share they received in 2015. Their ask is 16 per cent this year, rising to 22 per cent by 2030.

In response, the All England Club have called the request unrealistic, and pointed to its status as a non-profit with significant reinvestment obligations. 

Moreover, the announcement by players that media appearances would be capped at 15 minutes left organisers “surprised and disappointed”, as the move threatens to squeeze broadcasters out of their usual post-match access, which is relished by viewers across the world. 

Wimbledon says yes to VAR

Last year, Wimbledon did away with line judges in favour of the Electronic Line Calling (ELC) system. This year, players will be able to formally challenge certain calls made by the chair umpire, using video review technology. 

The system, which is already in place in the US and Australian Opens, has no limit on the number of reviews that players can request, and covers three specific scenarios: when the ball bounces twice before being returned; any foul shots, such as a player hitting the ball twice in a single stroke; and instances where the ball grazes a player's body, clothing or racket.

The system will run across six courts throughout the Championships, however only Centre Court and Court No.1 will have access for the duration of the tournament. Courts No.2, No.3, Court 12 and Court 18 will carry the technology until all singles matches on those courts have been completed.

For a tournament that has historically been among the more conservative of the Grand Slams, it’s a significant change for a tournament more accustomed to tradition than technology. 

She’s back: widely-acclaimed Grand Slam GOAT Serena Williams makes her return

If one story has defined this year's build-up, it is the return of seven-time Wimbledon-winner Serena Williams.

The 44-year-old accepted a singles wildcard at the All England Club, confirming her first Grand Slam singles appearance since she moved away from singles tennis after the 2022 US Open, after she lost to Ajla Tomljanović in the third round. 

Her 2026 comeback had until now been limited to doubles: this month. She played alongside Victoria Mboko at Queen's Club, and had a first-round exit in Berlin with Karolína Muchová at the Berlin Open. 

Now she arrives at SW19 doing both, pairing with sister Venus in the doubles for the first time at Wimbledon in a decade. Her first singles match will be against 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint, who said she couldn’t believe her luck when the draw game out. 

While most players might be a bit less enthusiastic about facing a player who was ranked the world’s No.1 for a total of 139 weeks over eight different reigns, Joint has said “it's going to be a difficult match, but I also think that I have a chance to win.”

And another familiar face returns as a coach

Britain’s Scottish superstar Andy Murray will also be making his return to the grassy courts – not as a player, but as a coach. 

The 39-year-old will be supporting Brit Jack Draper, who faces his first match on June 30 against American Taylor Fritz, who is currently ranked as world No.7. Draper, who has previously reached the top four, sits today at No. 160, after a spate of injuries and set-backs. 

When asked whether he would be making a Serena-style comeback any time soon, Murray quipped “I don't mind hitting the occasional ball if it's required on the practice court, but I don't think the 44-year-old me will be competing.”

Wimbledon will run for two weeks until Sunday 12 July.