Australian Open: scorching 43C heat keeps 50,000 fans away

Areas in the northwest of the state reached 48.9C — the highest temperature on record — and out-of-control bushfires destroyed properties in the Otways, 100 miles west of Melbourne.

“It is 1pm and I have served two or three people, I have sold about ten Lemon Aces,” said a member of bar staff named Vishesh. “Whenever it is too hot, people are not willing to come outside. Locals are not willing to come out. No one wants to faint, get skin burn.” A smoke-haze warning was given in the evening and the UV index peaked at 12, which is “extreme”.

Despite the world No6 and home favourite Alex de Minaur facing Carlos Alcaraz, it was the Australian Open’s Extreme Heat Protocols that were dominating conversation. The Heat Stress Scale, which was implemented in 2019 to ensure fair and consistent playing conditions, ranges from one to five, with cooling interventions in place at each threshold. Four climate factors — air temperature, radiant heat, humidity and wind speed — are measured from a variety of locations at Melbourne Park.

Level five was first reached at 1.30pm, resulting in a suspension in play on all courts. Action resumed on Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena once the roofs had closed. Play did not resume on any outside courts until 7.30pm, when temperatures dropped below 40C. By contrast, at Wimbledon, a ten-minute break is permitted when the temperature reaches 30.1C

When Aryna Sabalenka and Iva Jovic began the day’s quarter-final schedule, the scale read 2.5. When they had finished, 89 minutes later, it was 40.6C and, with the scale at 4.6, the suspension of play was imminent. Alexander Zverev’s victory against Learner Tien began under the roof on Rod Laver Arena.

Australian Open organisers confirmed the previous day that temperature-forced changes would be in place. The gates opened early at 9am, while action on Margaret Court Arena was opened to grounds pass holders. The Wheelchair Championships were postponed for 24 hours, while ballboys and girls had reduced rotations, increased recovery times and were given access to unlimited fruit, water and icy poles loaded with electrolytes.

John Cain Arena, one of the three show courts with a roof, became a rescue shelter; the second-largest stadium housed no tennis, but its air-conditioned concourse was sought after. At 2pm, Shake Shack — making its debut in Australia with two pop-ups — had a longer queue than Rod Laver Arena, and staff members were being briefed before a potential resumption late in the day.

“Take your time. Sit in the air-con. And tonight, be patient, take it slow. And remember the sunscreen,” the meeting’s leader said. Corienne, a member of staff born in Enfield, north London, but living in Brisbane, had been on John Cain Arena on Saturday too, when it was about 38C. “Saturday I was in the sun, helping with tickets. Today I’m here. It’s too cold to be honest, I didn’t bring my jacket,” she said.

Rob, a local lad, had the right idea: he was sitting in a deckchair in the shade with a refrigerated apple. “I’ve got the best spot in the grounds,” he said. Having clocked my accent he informed me: “I’ve done plenty of walking in the UK. I did the coast-to-coast hike; from Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay in Yorkshire. But sitting in this [pointing to the sun] is something different.”

Even the most popular fan-game on the grounds was empty. Rally Alley, where a punter is tasked with volleying tennis balls into odd-shaped holes to score points and win prizes, usually opens at 9am and has about 70 players per hour until the grounds close after 10pm. “The line every day has been ridiculous. But no line today,” Amelia said. “It’s empty. It’s kind of scary.”

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