Sabalenka rushed to retrieve a bottle of water and an ice pack from her chair after noticing a spectator in the stands required medical assistance.

The first incident occurred as Wimbledon favourite Sabalenka was desperately trying to hold serve during the first set of her clash with Amanda Anisimova.

Anisimova got the game to deuce and was threatening to clinch a crucial break, but Sabalenka only had thoughts for the spectator as she raised the issue with the chair umpire.

Match stewards and medical staff were quick to attend to the supporter, who was sat in the exposed east stand on Centre Court and had to be covered from the baking sun by an umbrella.

The spectators inside Centre Court applauded as Sabalenka offered a bottle of water and an ice pack across to the stand.

The umpire had no choice but to halt the match while the fan received medical treatment. After a brief pause, Sabalenka clinched a crucial hold to keep the first set finely poised.

Around 15 minutes later the match experienced another delay as another spectator fell ill. Once again, Sabalenka spotted the fan and headed over with a bottle of water.

Fans struggled with the heat at Wimbledon during the first few days of the Championships as temperatures exceeded 30 degrees.

Sabalenka offered water and an icepack to the supporter (Picture: PA)

Another spectator needed medical assistant (Picture: PA)

Fans struggled with the soaring temperatures (Picture: EPA)

The first match of Carlos Alcaraz’s title defence was halted as a spectator received medical attention. Like Sabalenka, Alcaraz was quick to react and offered a cold bottle of water from his cool bag.

Players and spectators had to contend with baking conditions on the first day of Wimbledon as the tournament recorded its hottest opening day on record.

Air temperature on the grounds reached 32.3C by 4pm, surpassing the previous record at the start of a Championships – the 29.3C set in 2001.

While Sabalenka held serve in the game that was disrupted by an ill spectator, she was later broken as Anisimova took the first set 6-4.

Sabalenka is bidding to win her first Wimbledon title and fourth Grand Slam in total, while Anisimova is hoping to reach the final of a Grand Slam for the first time.

‘I am so impressed by the way Anisimova has come out and played,’ two-time Grand Slam champion Tracy Austin said on BBC One. ‘You dream of this as a little girl on Centre Court at Wimbledon.

‘There’s such commitment in her groundstrokes. She’s hitting well, she’s moving well, she’s anticipating. Her return of serve is at the top of women’s tennis. If she sustains this it will be tough for Sabalenka.’

Watching the action from the stands was Daisy Lowe who invited mum, Pearl, to join her in the Emirates suite where they tucked into some lobster tail, served up by the airline’s cabin crew and, of course, a helping of strawberries and cream.