Australian Open 2014 Photos

Australian Oven: Melbourne on fire

January 14, 2014 12:12

Top tennis stars were put through a punishing workout at the Australian Open on Tuesday as temperatures soared towards record levels and threatened to disrupt a packed schedule on day two.

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Top tennis stars were put through a punishing workout at the Australian Open on Tuesday as temperatures soared towards record levels and threatened to disrupt a packed schedule on day two. (All AP and AFP images)
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With the mercury hitting 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) before play even started, players and fans were feeling the heat at Melbourne Park where 64 matches were on the agenda.
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Officials are keeping a close eye on the heat and humidity -- and for signs of exhaustion among players -- as they weigh up whether to call off play and close the roofs on the centre and second court.
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At Melbourne Park, the tennis venue near the centre of the state capital, unshaded seating areas lay largely empty as fans stayed out of the sun.
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Ice packs and isotonic drinks remained in high demand as temperatures hit 41.5 Celsius in the early afternoon, but then dropped to 32 Celsius.
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Volunteers handed out sunscreen as spectators entered the venue wearing sombreros, umbrella hats and sunglasses, and a young girl frolicked in a fountain to stay cool.
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Temperatures are forecast to hit 43 Celsius, shy of Melbourne's January record of 45.6 Celsius during the notorious Black Friday bushfires of 1936.
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High temperatures are expected to remain for most of the week, in similar conditions to the 2009 Black Saturday bushfire disaster which killed 173 and injured hundreds more.
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The Australian Open is no stranger to extreme heat with many incidences in the past, but few occasions when play has been suspended.
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Players draped themselves in ice towels and guzzled water on the changeovers with the thermometer hitting 40.5 Celsius (104.9 Fahrenheit) by early afternoon.

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