NewKerala.com

Australian Open Halts Outdoor Play as Scorching 36°C Heat Hits Melbourne

The Australian Open suspended outdoor-court matches and closed stadium roofs as temperatures soared to 36°C, triggering the tournament's extreme heat policy. Defending men's champion Jannik Sinner was visibly affected, experiencing cramping during his match, which was briefly suspended. Meanwhile, players like Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, and Amanda Anisimova, who have trained in hot climates, adapted successfully to the challenging conditions. Tournament officials rescheduled matches and enforced the policy to prioritize player and fan safety.

Key Points: Australian Open Suspends Matches Due to Extreme Heat Policy

  • Extreme heat policy suspends outdoor play
  • Defending champ Jannik Sinner suffers cramping
  • Matches moved indoors, schedule adjusted
  • Players from hot climates like Florida adapt well
2 min read

Aus Open: Outdoor matches suspended as temperatures hit 36°C

Australian Open outdoor matches suspended as temperatures hit 36°C. Defending champ Jannik Sinner affected, while players like Madison Keys adapt.

"It is wonderful to be out on the court even when it is 90 degrees, and I find it very enjoyable to be challenged under such conditions. - Amanda Anisimova"

Melbourne, Jan 24

The Australian Open's main showcourts at Melbourne Park had their roofs closed, and outdoor-court matches were suspended on Saturday under the tournament's extreme heat policy.

With temperatures soaring to 36°C (96.8°F), tournament officials prioritized player safety due to the intense heat during Saturday's events.

The Australian Open has a strict policy for extreme heat that grades four weather factors: air temperature, radiant heat, wind speed, and humidity. When conditions reach level 5, officials suspend play and close the roofs. To assist fans during these extremes, the tournament advises staying hydrated, wearing hats, and using misting fans inside the stadium.

The defending men's champion, Jannik Sinner, was visibly affected by the heat while playing on Rod Laver Arena. While trailing unseeded American Eliot Spizzirri, Sinner experienced noticeable cramping and other mobility issues. Sinner won the first set 6-4, lost the second 3-6, and was down 3-1 in the deciding (third) set when the heat stress index reached 5.0, the upper end of the scale. This caused the match to be suspended for eight minutes to give Sinner time to cool off before play resumed under the closed roof.

The match between Valentin Vacherot and Ben Shelton on Margaret Court Arena began shortly after the roof was closed. The tournament's referee later announced that no further outdoor matches would be held until after 5:30 p.m. local time (06:30 GMT).

Due to the forecast of extreme heat becoming typical during the tournament, organisers decided to schedule matches earlier than usual. By 10:30 am, when Madison Keys- defending Women's Singles Champion- began her match, temperatures and humidity levels had already risen significantly. Although her Florida upbringing had prepared her for hot weather, Keys showed no signs of discomfort as she finished her match 75 minutes later, defeating former World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova.

Other players from Florida are Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova, both of whom also enjoyed success in this extreme climate.

Jessica Pegula defeated Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-3, 6-2, and noted that the high temperature helped her conserve energy and reduce effort during her match. Amanda Anisimova beat Peyton Stearns 6-1, 6-4 in 71 minutes and mentioned that her early training in hot weather prepares her well for such conditions, saying, "It is wonderful to be out on the court even when it is 90 degrees, and I find it very enjoyable to be challenged under such conditions."

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
It's interesting to see how players from hotter climates like Florida have an advantage. Reminds me of how Indian players often handle the humidity in Chennai or Delhi better during tournaments. Smart scheduling to start matches earlier!
R
Rohit P
Respect to the officials for having a clear, data-driven policy. The four-factor grading system sounds very scientific. In our part of the world, we often just say "it's very hot" 😅. More sports bodies should adopt such structured approaches for athlete welfare.
S
Sarah B
While player safety is paramount, I can't help but feel for the fans who paid to watch outdoor matches. An eight-minute break for one player seems like a very small concession in such extreme conditions. Perhaps the policy could be even stricter to prevent health scares altogether.
V
Vikram M
Climate change is making these extreme weather events more common. Grand Slams might need to think about shifting dates in the future, just like how the IPL is now mostly an evening/night event to avoid the peak summer heat. Adapt or suffer!
M
Michael C
The mental toughness required to play in that heat, and to enjoy it like Anisimova said, is incredible. It separates the good from the great. Reminds me of marathon runners. Hydration and acclimatization are key.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50