Australian Open organizers were forced to implement their extreme heat protocols, as Melbourne Park faced scorching weather conditions.
Play was suspended on the outdoor courts shortly after 2:30 p.m. AEDT, while arena roofs were closed so matches could continue indoors.
The organizers made the decision to suspend the game when the heat stress scale reached the maximum value of five.
The temperature reached 38 degrees Celsius around 3 p.m. AEDT, two below the forecast maximum.
Matches on the outdoor courts only resumed after a five-hour delay.
A spectator cools off in front of fans at Melbourne Park. (Getty Images: James D. Morgan)
Play began early on day seven, with the first match list starting at 10:30 a.m. AEDT.
Among those who completed their third-round matches was women’s sixth seed Jessica Pegula, who beat Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-3, 6-2.
Pegula completed her victory in one hour and six minutes at Margaret Court Arena, avoiding the warmer conditions that befell Melbourne Park in the afternoon.
“It started to get a little heated,” Pegula said in the post-match press conference.
“I just tried to use the iced towels as much as possible, just pre-cooling a lot.
“Not necessarily (because) it was that hot right now, but if it started to heat up or something happened and we went into a third (set), I definitely think it could zap you pretty quickly.
“The fact that we haven’t played much in hot temperatures is what attracts people, I think. You don’t have any kind of tolerance for that.”
Madison Keys was among the first players to take the courts. (AP: Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Also playing in the morning was defending champion Madison Keys, who will face compatriot Pegula in the fourth round.
Keys, seeded ninth, beat KarolĂna PlĂšková 6-3, 6-3 at Rod Laver Arena, although she was unfazed by the heat.
“I didn’t really notice it, to be honest,” she said.
“Coming off the field, I was a little surprised at how hot it was reading.
“It didn’t seem that bad to me, but it obviously helps to finish as early as we did.”
Saturday won’t be the only day the Australian Open faces extreme heat.
Tuesday’s long-range forecast is above 40°C.
