Tennis Grand Slam
Events > Grand Slam > Australian Open > Heat Policy
Extreme Heat Policy
The Australian Open is held in Melbourne Australia, in January each year. This is at the peak of the Australian summer. Although Melbourne is known for it's cooler climate compared to Sydney, and other cities to the north, at summertime extreme conditions are not unknown.
For many years the Australian Open has had a heat policy which has given it guidelines about under what conditions to stop matches that are being played in the summer sun.
Extreme Heat Policy
The Australian Open tournament has for some time had an Extreme Heat Policy. The policy since 2003 has strict guidelines for allowing games to continue or to start. The policy, in part, reads:
"In addition to the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) being equal to or above 28, if the Absolute Temperature exceeds 35C (95F), the Tournament Referee may suspend the commencement of any further matches on the outside courts,''
Games are suspended when the air temperature exceeds 35 degrees centigrade (which is 95 degrees fahrenheit), and also the WBGT exceeds 28 degrees (which is 82 degrees fahrenheit). The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is a composite temperature used to estimate the effect of temperature, humidity, and solar radiation on humans. When these conditions are reached, no new matches can start on the outside courts for at least an hour after the policy is implemented, but all ongoing matches will be completed. The roofs can also be closed on Rod Laver Arena and Vodafone Arena.
The medical officials at the Australian Open now provide ice vests for all players, which are available once the wet bulb globe temperature exceeds 28°C. Ice rolls are available on court every day.
In 2006, Australian Open officials enforced the policy on five days of the tournament.
Related Pages
- What is WBGT and how to measure it.
