The Australian Open has activated its Extreme Heat Protocol for the second time during this tournament due to exceptionally high temperatures. On Tuesday, players and fans alike felt the intensity of the heat, prompting officials to take necessary precautions.
This protocol is based on a ‘Heat Stress Scale’ that ranges from 1 to 5, assessing four critical environmental factors: air temperature, radiant heat, humidity, and wind speed. When this index reaches the maximum level of 5, matches on outdoor courts are suspended, and the roofs of the three arenas at Melbourne Park with retractable covers are closed to protect players from the oppressive conditions.
Such measures were implemented on Saturday during Jannik Sinner's match on center court. Although the roof was initially open at the start of Day 10, it was closed again after Aryna Sabalenka's decisive victory over Iva Jovic, where she won with a score of 6-3, 6-0. The closure of the roof ensured better playing conditions for the subsequent men's quarterfinal between Alexander Zverev and Learner Tien.
After her match, Sabalenka expressed relief about the decision to close the roof, stating, "At the end of the match, it was really hot out there. I’m glad they kind of closed the roof almost halfway so we had a lot of shade in the back to recover." She added humorously, "I guess, yeah, as a woman, we are stronger than the guys, so they had to close the roof for the guys so they don’t suffer!"
The primary goal of this protocol is to prioritize player safety and maintain a consistent playing environment during extreme weather conditions. With forecasts predicting temperatures soaring to 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) later on Tuesday, organizers had to be well-prepared.
To provide clarity, the Extreme Heat Protocol was introduced in 2019 and includes the Heat Stress Scale designed to ensure fairness among all competitors while reducing the risk of heat-related health issues. The scale serves as a guideline for when cooling interventions become necessary. If extreme heat is present, the tournament referee is empowered to suspend play or implement additional cooling breaks.
When the index indicates a level of 5, matches in both women’s and men’s singles are automatically halted. The referee also has the discretion to postpone any upcoming matches scheduled on outdoor courts. Furthermore, if matches have been stopped due to heat, the referee can decide whether to close the roof for future matches held in the arena.
Players are notified at least 30 minutes before play resumes, allowing them adequate time to prepare. When the Heat Stress Scale reaches level 4, extra 10-minute breaks are allowed between the second and third sets for women’s singles and between the third and fourth sets for men’s singles.
It's important to note that if the roof is closed before the first set concludes in a women's singles match or before the second set ends in a men's singles match, no additional cooling breaks will be granted.
Sabalenka acknowledged that she anticipated precautionary measures would be taken once the scale indicated a level of 4, and she was confident the full protocol would be enacted if the index reached 5. "I knew they wouldn’t let us play in crazy heat. If it hit 5, they would definitely close the roof to protect our health," she explained. "By the time we finished, it was 4.4, so it was quite hot."
Stay tuned for more updates from the Australian Open as they continue to navigate through challenging weather conditions.
