Australian Open organisers have made a significant decision as they remain on high alert with extreme heat forecast for Victoria over the Australia Day long weekend. With Saturday's weather predicted to reach a scorching top of 41 degrees Celsius, tournament officials are implementing drastic measures to ensure the safety of players and off-court staff at Melbourne Park.
Heat Concerns Prompt Schedule Changes
This proactive response comes after a concerning incident earlier in the week when a young ballgirl collapsed during the first-round match between world No.11 Ekaterina Alexandrova and Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez. In an attempt to avoid playing during the hottest part of the day, organisers have decided to commence play an hour earlier than usual.
Matches at the four largest courts will now begin at 10.30am AEDT instead of the standard 11.30am start time. These venues include the three retractable-roofed arenas - Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, and John Cain Arena - as well as Kia Arena. Gates will open for spectators at 8.45am to accommodate the adjusted schedule.
Limited Impact on Match Quantity
However, any fans hoping that the earlier start might result in additional tennis action will be disappointed. Tournament officials have confirmed that there will still only be two matches scheduled during the day session despite the time adjustment.
Comprehensive Heat Policy Implementation
The Australian Open's extreme heat policy, which operates on the AO Heat Stress Scale rated from 1 to 5, will be closely monitored by tennis officials throughout the weekend. This sophisticated rating system depends on multiple factors including air temperature, humidity, wind speed, solar radiation, and player discomfort levels.
The scale helps inform the actions officials can take, which may include suspending play entirely or closing arena roofs as deemed appropriate to ensure player safety in extreme heat conditions. This comprehensive approach demonstrates the tournament's commitment to athlete welfare during challenging weather events.
Player Schedules in the Heat
Second seed Jannik Sinner could potentially play during the hottest part of the day, with his third-round match against American Eliot Spizzirri scheduled second on Rod Laver Arena. Meanwhile, Serbian superstar and ten-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic will compete in the cooler night session against Botic van de Zandschulp.
Qualifier Maddison Inglis, who remains the only Australian female in the singles tournament, will likely escape the worst of the heat. However, she faces the mammoth task of taking on former world No.1 Naomi Osaka in the second match at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night.
Players Advancing to Fourth Round
World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz won't need to worry about Saturday's extreme heat after the Spaniard made light work of 32nd seed Corentin Moutet in straight sets 6-2, 6-4, 6-1. He'll meet big-hitting American Tommy Paul in the fourth round on Sunday after the 19th seed advanced through to the last 16 with a walkover. Spanish 14th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina retired hurt after being two sets down, 6-1, 6-1.
Former world No.1 and Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev will also enjoy a break on Saturday after fighting his way into the fourth round from two sets down. He defeated Fabian Marozsan in five sets, pulling out a 6-7 (5-7), 4-6, 7-5, 6-0, 6-3 victory on Margaret Court Arena.
