Australian Open: First Grand Slam of 2023 sees outside play suspension resulting from excessive warmth

The Australian Open noticed the suspension of play on the skin courts after the AO Heat Stress Scale reached 5. At Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena, play continued below closed roofs.

New Delhi ,UPDATED: Jan 17, 2023 10:36 IST

Play was suspended on exterior courts at Australian Open. (AP Photo)

By India Today Web Desk: Australian Open 2023 noticed the suspension of play on the skin courts on Tuesday after the AO Heat Stress Scale reached 5.

Play continued to happen till the tip of a good variety of video games or the completion of a tie-break. However, no new matches can be referred to as to the skin courts. At Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena, play continued below closed roofs.

According to the Australian Open’s Extreme Heat Policy, the referee opinions the circumstances and the coverage to find out when play can be resumed on outside courts. After the choice is made, gamers can be given not less than half-hour’ discover earlier than resumption.

The AO Heat Stress Scale considers air temperature, radiant warmth (power of the solar), humidity and wind pace, which have an effect on the participant’s capacity to disperse warmth from their physique. Those components are measured in actual time throughout 5 completely different places throughout the Melbourne Park precinct.

At 1:12pm the AO Heat Stress Scale reached 4 and the warmth coverage got here into play. This means singles gamers can take a 10-minute break – girls between the second and third set and males between the third and fourth set – of their matches.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2023

The Australian Open tweeted: “At 1:12pm the AO Heat Stress Scale reached 4 and the heat policy came into play. This means singles players can take a 10-minute break – women between the second and third set and men between the third and fourth sets – of their matches.

“Players have the choice of staying on courtroom or utilizing showers or cooling rooms.

“The AO Heat Stress Scale has reached 5 and play will be suspended on the outside courts. This means play continues until the end of an even number of games or the completion of a tie break. No new matches will be called to court. Play on outdoor practice courts is also suspended.

“The roofs will stay closed on RLA, MCA and JCA for the rest of the matches presently in play. There can be no play on exterior courts earlier than 5pm. The Referee will proceed to evaluate circumstances AO-Heat Stress Scale to find out when play might be resumed on exterior courts.

“The Referee may make the decision to keep the roof closed for any upcoming matches on RLA, MCA and JCA,” the event added.

Published On:

Jan 17, 2023