Extreme temperatures gripped Melbourne, forcing the Australian Open to implement its heat policy on Saturday. As the mercury climbed to 36°C, outdoor matches ground to a halt, and retractable roofs on key arenas slammed shut. Player and fan welfare took center stage amid the oppressive conditions.
A sophisticated heat stress metric—factoring in temperature, solar radiation, wind, and moisture—triggered the shutdown when it hit maximum levels. This wasn’t mere discomfort; it was a health imperative, suspending several high-stakes encounters.
Advice flooded venues: hydrate relentlessly, don protective headgear, utilize cooling mist fans. The heat’s toll was evident on Rod Laver Arena, where Jannik Sinner, last year’s men’s winner, battled cramps mid-match. An eight-minute respite under the now-closed roof gave him time to recover before resuming.
Valentin Vacherot faced Ben Shelton indoors at Margaret Court Arena post-roof closure. Officials banned outdoor play until evening, reshuffling schedules preemptively against worsening heat predictions.
Women’s standout Madison Keys shrugged off the sauna-like atmosphere to oust Karolina Pliskova. Victors Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova highlighted rigorous hot-weather drills as their secret weapon. The Australian Open presses on, but Mother Nature is dictating terms this year.