The Australian Open faced significant disruption on Tuesday as scorching temperatures prompted tournament organisers to implement their extreme heat policy, leading to the suspension of play on outer courts and the closure of roofs on the main showcourts at Melbourne Park.
Record-Breaking Heat Forces Action
With the mercury climbing relentlessly, the tournament's "Heat Stress Scale" reached its maximum threshold of 5.0 early in the afternoon. By 2pm local time, the temperature had breached the 40°C mark, and it continued to rise, peaking at a blistering 43°C by 4:30pm. This represents the highest temperature recorded at the event since 2009, making it the hottest Australian Open day in seventeen years.
Policy Implementation and Player Safety
The year's opening Grand Slam operates under a comprehensive extreme heat policy that takes into account multiple factors, including air temperature, radiant heat, wind speed, and humidity to accurately assess playing conditions. The threshold for action was crossed shortly after world number one Aryna Sabalenka secured her place in the semi-finals with a commanding 6-3, 6-0 victory over American teenager Iva Jovic.
As the players departed the court, the roof on Rod Laver Arena was closed to provide relief. Sabalenka later commented to reporters, "At the end of the match, it was really hot out there. I'm glad they closed the roof almost halfway so we had a lot of shade in the back, so we could go back and stay in the shade." She added, "I knew going into this match that they won't let us play on crazy heat. If it (the scale) would reach the five, they would definitely close the roof, so I knew that they were protecting us, our health."
Continued Play and Crowd Impact
Despite the challenging conditions, quarter-final matches in the Rod Laver Arena proceeded under the closed roof throughout the day. Alexander Zverev triumphed over rising star Learner Tien, while Elina Svitolina delivered a stunning 59-minute domination against Coco Gauff. However, the extreme weather had a noticeable effect on attendance, with entry queues much shorter than usual and concourses across the venue largely devoid of crowds, despite record viewership numbers for this edition of the season's opening Grand Slam.
Precautionary Measures and Adjustments
In response to the forecast heat, organisers took several precautionary steps to ensure the safety of all involved. Matches in the Wheelchair Championships have been postponed by 24 hours, and fans were advised to bring hats, drink plenty of water, and utilise the misting fans scattered around Melbourne Park.
Special conditions were also enacted for tournament staff, with ball kids receiving shorter spells on court, increased recovery times, and the deployment of additional relief squads to manage the demanding environment.
The implementation of these measures underscores the tournament's commitment to player welfare and spectator comfort in the face of extreme weather, highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by climate conditions at major sporting events.
