MELBOURNE: Australian Open organisers urged fans to drink plenty of water and stay in the shade as the tournament braces for a freak heatwave on Tuesday with temperatures set to soar as high as 45C.
The extreme weather has forced the Grand Slam wheelchair championships to be postponed for 24 hours with doubles and juniors action on outside courts also likely to be impacted. The tournament has a Heat Stress Scale of 1-5, with five the highest.
When it hits the maximum, play on outside courts is suspended. Top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka spearhead the action in four singles quarter-finals, but they will be on Rod Laver Arena, which has a roof that can be closed.
“We encourage everyone to prepare for a warm day,” organisers said. “The health and safety of everyone on-site is the priority.” Special conditions will be in place for tournament staff, including ballkids, who will have reduced rotations and increased recovery times.
Gates to Melbourne Park will open earlier than usual to avoid fans having to queue for hours in the baking sun. Extreme heat triggered a suspension of play on Saturday when temperatures hit 40C.
