Heat halts play at Australian Open. At the Australian Open on Tuesday, searing heat forced the suspension of outdoor matches and left spectators scrambling for cover as players faced an early endurance test at Melbourne Park.
About three hours into the day session, the temperature crept up to 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit) as sweltering winds whipped through the arena, prompting the organizers to invoke its Extreme Heat Policy.
Ten outdoor matches at the Grand Slam were called off because the Heat Stress Scale for the competition, which gauges radiant heat, humidity, and air temperature in the shade, reached its highest level of 5.0.
However, action continued on the main showcourts’ roofs as Andy Murray, a former world number one, battled Italian Matteo Berrettini in Rod Laver Arena.
Play on outdoor courts will not begin again until 5 p.m. local time, according to the organizers (0600 GMT).
Not all players were pleased with the interruption of play, with local Jordan Thompson losing his composure after his match on Court Three was stopped while he was behind American J.J. Wolf 6-3, 1-3.
“Whenever does that occur?” global ranking 88 The chair umpire was yelled at by Thompson.
“I have been here when it has been about 45 degrees.”
Leylah Fernandez of Canada was relieved to defeat seasoned French player Alize Cornet in straight sets in the opening round on Court 3 even though the temperature was already over 30 degrees Celsius when plays began in the morning.
According to Fernandez, “I think I did well to regulate my emotions, and then especially handle the heat, try not to become too hot-headed.”
“Therefore, I was delighted with that.”
The Australian Open, held in the middle of summer there, is known for its extreme heat, which periodically causes play to be halted and causes scheduling issues for the tournament’s organizers.
At the end of 2018, Tennis Australia made changes to its excessive heat policy in response to several player complaints about the health and safety dangers associated with the earlier system.
(Reuters/NAN)
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