The Australian Open activated its extreme heat protocols for the second time this tournament, utilizing a “heat stress scale” that ranges from 1 to 5, assessing air temperature, radiant heat, humidity, and wind speed. When the scale hits 5, outdoor matches are suspended, and the roofs of Melbourne Park’s arenas are closed. This occurred during Jannik Sinner’s match on Saturday.
The protocols aim to safeguard players during extremely high temperatures, with predictions of up to 45°C (113°F) on Tuesday, but temperatures peaked at just over 42°C (108°F). Matches included Aryna Sabalenka’s win over Iva Jovic and Alexander Zverev’s match thereafter, which saw the roofs closed for relief from the heat.
The extreme heat policy, established in 2019, allows referees to suspend matches or provide cooling breaks based on the heat index. If the index reaches 5, play is automatically suspended, and future matches on outdoor courts may be postponed. Players are notified 30 minutes before play resumes.
Wednesday’s forecast suggests a significant drop in temperatures to around 24°C (75°F) for the rest of the week. The women’s final is set for Saturday, and the men’s final is on Sunday.
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