As you can see, the 2014 Australian Open is going to get off to a scorching start – and we’re not talking about just the tennis.
And it’s pretty clear they will have to invoke the extreme heat policy early, and often.
What happens is that if they hit that mysterious magic index number (including humidity), the tournament referee can decide that no matches not already under way will get started. Any matches being played will finish the set they’re in.
Inside the two roofed stadiums, the decision to close the roof for the rest of that match and any others would only be made at the end of the set. But the roofs would only be closed for heat if play is stopped on the outside courts.
The women are allowed, under these rules, to get a 10-minute break between the second and third sets when that magic number hits “30.1” (not that they wouldn’t take one of those anyway, with the length of time bathroom breaks are taking these days). Juniors also get a 10-minute break, and wheelchair singles get 15 minutes. That doesn’t apply if the match was already stopped after the first set because of the heat.
The boys? Well, I guess they expect them to be *tougher*. Or something. No special breaks.
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