How are French Open stars coping with Paris 'heat dome'?

Four-time women's champion Iga Swiatek, who recently spent time with her idol on the practice court, benefits from a similar play.

"It's a bit easier to play higher and with spin. The ball is bouncing off the court faster, so that gives you more advantage," she said.

"But first you need to have control over the ball, because it is playing faster in the air and it's easier to put it out."

Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas, runner-up at Roland Garros in 2021, believes the added bounce could help as he looks to revive his stalling career.

"The heat gives me a little bit of an extra edge," said former world number three Tsitsipas, who has fallen to 79th in the rankings.

"It allows me to have a more lively ball and I feel like my strengths are amplified in those sort of conditions."

Russian sixth seed Daniil Medvedev said he was not physically affected by the heat in his first-round exit against Australia's Adam Walton, but his game is not as well suited to the livelier conditions.

Medvedev hits flatter on his groundstrokes, meaning the ball stays lower on the clay and allows his opponents to return more comfortably.

"I don't think the heat played any role except that it's just a bit different to play in the heat on clay, but again, that's just normal," said Medvedev.

"I know why I don't really play my best in Roland Garros, but if I say it, it's excuses. So I keep it to myself."