jasdooit

Open courts were required to be covered during play at the Australian Open in Melbourne due to extreme conditions on the Heat Stress Scale. Courts without a roof could not be used until 5:30 pm local time.

The match was halted on outdoor courts in the early afternoon on Saturday due to the extreme heat regulations at the Australian Open.

Athletes, staff, and fans endured intense heat at Melbourne Park on the seventh day of the competition, with temperatures anticipated to reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the late afternoon. Games were scheduled an hour earlier to manage the extreme weather.

On a Heat Stress Index ranging from 1 to 5, temperatures reached 36 degrees Celsius, with the maximum level of the scale recorded in the early afternoon, leading to the cancellation.

Play has been halted for all matches and training sessions on outdoor courts,” the tournament stated on X. “Courts with roofs will be closed and stay closed for the rest of the match.

In the meantime, games would not take place on outdoor courts until 5:30 pm (0630 GMT).

Players battle heat

A game involving the reigning championJannik Sinnerand Eliot Spizzirri was interrupted during its third round. Sinner was already experiencing cramps when the match was paused for several minutes to cover the court.

Temperatures turned extremely hot quite early in the day when the defending championMadison Keysarrived at the court around 10:30 am (2330 GMT, Friday). She and her fellow countrywomen Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova performed well in the conditions, as they reside in Florida and are familiar with high temperatures.

“Just the fact that we had so many outdoor courts during the summer, it was always extremely hot, I disliked training in the summer,” Anisimova said.

But you know what? It somewhat worked out. It’s wonderful to be performing here even though it’s extremely hot; it’s good to have a challenge.

Organizers had advised fans to carry hats, drink plenty of water, and utilize misting fans in the park.

Edited by: Wesley Dockery

Writer: Mahima Kapoor (with AP, AFP and Reuters)