Australian Open 2023: How hot is it in Melbourne? What temperature does roof get closed? Hottest weather ever, rules
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Updated 18/01/2023 at 04:44 GMT
Everyone knows the weather at the Australian Open can get seriously hot, but what kind of temperatures are we talking about and what are the policies in place that dictate what conditions the players can participate in? What are the hottest temperatures ever recorded at Melbourne Park and have matches been postponed due to the heat? We explain all of that and more in this article...
Schett on the heat rule at Australian Open - 'We have to protect the players'
The Australian Open always delivers intense action and very often delivers intense heat too. Have you ever wondered just how hot it can be at Melbourne Park during the first Grand Slam of the tennis season? Let's explore what the conditions can be like at the tournament.
It has certainly already become a real issue at the 2023 edition of the tournament with matches on outside courts having to be postponed due to extreme heat. So what is the Australian Open extreme heat policy and how hot can it really get in Melbourne?
How hot is it at the Australian Open?
With the Grand Slam being held slap-bang in the middle of the Australian summer, it can get seriously hot. To take 2014 as an example, nine players retired from their opening matches due to experiencing severe heat as temperatures hit a staggering 43.9 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit).
As a result, play had to be halted on numerous occasions which led to issues with the tournament schedule. In 2015, the official temperature limit was increased from 35 to 40 degrees Celsius.
Indeed, on the first Tuesday this year, the tournament has already seen the extreme heat policies come into effect with matches suspended on the outside courts in stifling conditions.
As reported on the official Australian Open social platforms: "At 1:12pm [local time] 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 set - of their matches.
"Players have the option of staying on court or using 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 normal temperature for the middle of January is 26 degrees Celsius (around 78 degrees Fahrenheit), according to Accuweather. But temperatures can regularly float between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius over the course of the tournament.
For further context, the Rod Laver Arena was introduced in 1988 and enabled players to compete under the roof if temperatures hit 40 degrees Celsius. Indeed, at the match referee's discretion, it could be moved across the court at anything beyond 35 degrees Celsius.
The first time a more blanket rule was introduced was in 1998 when it was stated that matches across all courts at Melbourne Park would be halted if the temperature reached 40 degrees Celsius. That mark was then changed in 2002 and 2003.
In 2019, a new Heat Stress Scale was introduced to determine whether conditions are safe enough for play and if matches could be suspended.
In 2022, Simona Halep and Alize Cornet played in searing heat with both players desperately clutching their towels between points. The French player secured her place in the quarter-finals after beating the No. 14 seed, 6-4 3-6 6-4 in stifling conditions on Rod Laver Arena.
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Australian Open heat Melbourne
Image credit: Getty Images
What is the Australian Open extreme heat policy?
Starting with the 2019 Australian Open, the tournament organisers introduced the 'AO Heat Stress Scale' to provide clear guidelines to be followed when temperatures rise considerably.
- 1 - Temperate playing conditions
- 2 - Increase hydration
- 3 - Apply cooling strategies
- 4 - Extended breaks
- 5 - Suspension of play
The official Australian Open website outlines the scale and explains how it is implemented when required during the course of the tournament.
"The Heat Stress Scale will be used to measure four climate factors - radiant heat (strength of the sun), air temperature in the shade, relative humidity and wind speed. These will be measured at five positions around the precinct, including on court in Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and Melbourne Arena. The scale starts at (1) for temperate playing conditions and escalates to (5) - suspension of play.
"Under the EHP, the Tournament Referee will allow a 10-minute break between the second and third sets in both women’s and junior singles matches and a 15-minute break in wheelchair singles matches when a four (4.0) is recorded on the AO HSS prior to or during the first two sets of the match.
"In the men’s singles, a 10-minute break will be allowed after the third set when a four (4.0) is recorded on the AO HSS prior to or during the first three sets of the match.
"If a five (5.0) is recorded on the AO HSS, the Tournament Referee can suspend the start of matches on outside courts and all matches in progress continuing until the end of an even number of games in that set or completion of the tie break before play will be suspended.
"Matches on Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and Melbourne Arena will stop after an even number of games in that set or completion of the tie-break when the Tournament Referee can decide to close the roof for the remainder of the match and the following matches when the EHP is still in effect."
When does the roof get closed due to heat at Australian Open?
In regards to the use of the roof, it adds: "The decision to close an arena roof rests solely with the tournament referee.
"Roofs on Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and Melbourne Arena can be closed in the event of rain or the Extreme Heat Policy being invoked prior to the scheduled start of play. If play commences with a roof closed, it will remain closed for the entire match."
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