Organizers invoked the tournament’s extreme heat protocol as temperatures surged at Melbourne Park on Tuesday, suspending play on outer courts and closing the roofs on the main showcourts.
The policy, introduced in 2019 to reduce heat-related illness and provide consistent conditions for players, takes air temperature, radiant heat, wind speed and humidity into account to calculate a Heat Stress index and determine when cooling measures are needed. Officials moved to the highest threshold of the index — 5.0 — shortly after 2 p.m. when the mercury climbed past 40°C (104°F).
The threshold was reached soon after world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka finished a 6-3, 6-0 win over teenager Iva Jovic. Sabalenka said it felt very hot and that she was glad the roof was closed partway through the match, which gave players more shade.
Under the extreme heat rules, the tournament referee can suspend outdoor play, close stadium roofs, allow additional cooling breaks and take other measures to protect players’ health.
Southeastern Australia is in the grip of a major heat wave. The Bureau of Meteorology warned Melbourne temperatures could reach about 45°C (113°F), with severe to extreme heat wave conditions expected to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday before easing later in the week.
Organizers urged spectators to wear hats, apply sunscreen, stay hydrated and use shaded or cooling areas on site.