shot-button
Subscription Subscription
Home > Sports News > Other Sports News > Article > Inhumane heat takes its toll at Australian Open

'Inhumane' heat takes its toll at Australian Open

Updated on: 15 January,2014 02:11 AM IST  | 
AFP |

With tennis stars fainting and vomiting due to the scorching heat, Day Two of the year’s first Grand Slam witnessed various angry complaints and fans keeping away in droves

'Inhumane' heat takes its toll at Australian Open

Melbourne: Players fainted and vomited and a ball boy collapsed as the Australian Open boiled in one of the hottest days in its history yesterday, prompting angry complaints and keeping fans away in droves.


Frank Dancevic
Frank Dancevic of Canada

Temperatures of 42.2 Celsius (108 Fahrenheit), enough to melt plastic bottles on the rubberised courts, made for a punishing day for the players with some incensed their matches went ahead.

Canada’s Frank Dancevic lashed out at the “inhumane” playing conditions after he felt dizzy and then blacked out and needed treatment during his first-round defeat to Benoit Paire.

“I think it’s inhumane, I don’t think it’s fair to anybody, to the players, to the fans, to the sport, when you see players pulling out of matches, passing out,” he said.


Juan Martin Del Potro
Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro’s expression says it all

“I’ve played five-set matches all my life and being out there for a set-and-a-half and passing out with heat-stroke, it’s not normal. 

Having players with so many problems and complaining to the tournament that it’s too hot to play, until somebody dies, they’re just keep going on with it and putting matches on in this heat. I personally don’t think it’s fair and I know a lot of players don’t think it’s fair.”

Peng’s bad day
Chinese player Peng Shuai cramped and vomited during her loss to Japan’s Kurumi Nara, and also received a violation for time-wasting at a moment when she said she was unable to walk.

“I was just cramping and I couldn’t stand up. Both legs, my hamstrings were cramping,” she said. “I had no energy, I couldn’t run, I couldn’t serve,” she said, blaming the heat for her defeat. “So it’s impossible to play tennis like this.”


Simona Halep
Romania’s Simona Halep points to a bottle of water in hot Melbourne yesterday

Officials said because humidity remained low, they chose not to invoke emergency rules which allow them to halt play and close the roofs on the centre and second court.

“Of course there were a few players who experienced heat-related illness or discomfort, but none required significant medical intervention after they had completed their match,” said chief medical officer Tim Wood.

The Australian Open, held at the height of the Melbourne summer, is notorious for its heat. State officials imposed a blanket fire ban and warned of extreme temperatures in some areas on Tuesday.

The day’s peak of 42.2 Celsius was shy of Melbourne’s January record of 45.6 Celsius, which came during the notorious Black Friday bushfires of 1936.

Temperatures above 40 Celsius are expected for most of the week, in similar conditions to the 2009 Black Saturday bushfire disaster which killed 173 and injured hundreds more. 

To cope, players draped themselves in ice towels and guzzled water on the changeovers as temperatures, already at 35 Celsius before play even started, rose steadily until the early evening.

Victoria livid
“It felt pretty hot, like you’re dancing in a frying pan or something like that,” said defending women’s champion Victoria Azarenka. “I don’t think anybody wants to go outdoors right now.”

Daniel Gimeno-Traver helped a ball boy to his chair after he collapsed during the Spaniard’s loss to Milos Raonic. A spokeswoman said the boy later recovered. 

Rafael NadalRafael Nadal dries himself with a towel. Pics/Getty Images, AFP

Former World No 1 Caroline Wozniacki said that when she put her water bottle down on court, the bottom started melting. “Geez, it feels hot out there,” said Wozniacki, who headed straight for an ice bath after her win over Lourdes Dominguez Lino. “It feels like I was sweating in a sauna or something.”

In 2009, the hottest edition on record with an average daily temperature of 34.7 Celsius, Novak Djokovic pulled out of his quarter-final with Andy Roddick, citing heat exhaustion.

And in 2007, women’s star Maria Sharapova slammed the conditions after playing a gruelling three-setter against France’s Camille Pin. Officials have sought to play down any health risks, pointing out that no player has ever died from dehydration on a tennis court.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!


Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK