With temperature in Melbourne again recording 42°C on Wednesday, heat wave conditions continue to test the fitness of the players at the Australian Open. Till now some nine players have been retired hurt or have forfeited their matches in the first round, matching the record for an Open-era Grand Slam. And even if the players decide to continue the match, concerns remain over the quality of the tennis being played.
According to our meteorologists, the variation in temperatures and the high level of relative humidity is taking a toll on the players. For instance if it is post noon session encounter and the match continues till the fifth set, players will start playing under temperature touching 40°C or above and then will finish the match with a temperature in mid-thirties. The humidity level jumps from 10 per cent and sticks around the 30s during the noon.
Such variations usually lead to dehydration and other fatigue related strains forcing players to leave the match in between.
Frank Dancevic who fainted yesterday expressed to the media, ‘‘I was dizzy from the middle of the first set and then I saw Snoopy and I thought, 'Wow Snoopy, that’s weird'.”
John Isner who retired hurt in a match yesterday with an ankle injury said, "It was like an oven - when I open the oven and the potatoes are done. That's what it's like."
Tournament officials understandably want to complete the event on schedule. They are of the view that with the second week of the Grand Slam approaching, the heat issue will fade away and focus will shift to who will hold the trophy.
Photograph by Sascha Wenninger
