Andy Murray overcame scorching heatwave conditions to clear the first hurdle in his quest for a second Wimbledon title.
The world number three beat Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan in straight sets in his opening game at SW19 in two hours and 13 minutes.
A thermometer inside Centre Court reached a sizzling temperature of 41C (105.8F) on what was the hottest day of the year so far.
Forecasters said that Wimbledon had seen a maximum temperature of 30C (86F), with the mercury expected to reach to a sweltering 35C tomorrow.
It would beat the record for the tournament’s hottest day ever – 34.6C (94.28) in the summer of 1976.