AUS Open - Serving Up a Scorcher

Joanne Crotty
Jan 16, 2017
2 min read

Play in the Australian Open kicks off today - with forecasts for the event suggesting some very hot early rounds, with temperatures reaching the mid to high 30's with Extreme UV levels.

Tomorrow's forecast of 38° C will be a test for The Open's extreme weather policy - however a cooler change later in the week still brings with it warnings of Extreme UV levels bringing with it a high risk of sun damage.

Tomorrow's forecast adds to growing concerns for the welfare of players, officials and supporters which have been expressed in the past after a myriad of heat-related illnesses that plagued both the 2014 and 2015 events.

In 2014, a record nine players withdrew from first round matches as a result of extreme heat along with St Johns Ambulance workers claiming they treated 970 people with heat-related illnesses in just one day.

Canadian player, Frank Dancevic, collapsed in the middle of his first round match. He later described that the conditions that he had to play in were 'inhumane'.

“I was dizzy from the middle of the first set and then I saw Snoopy and I thought, ‘Wow Snoopy, that’s weird.

“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… It’s hazardous to be out there, it’s dangerous. Until somebody dies, they’re going to keep playing matches in this heat … and personally I don’t think it’s fair,” Mr Dancevic said.

In 2015, a tennis fan famously attempted to sue tennis chiefs for not providing enough shade - causing her to escape the sun drenched stands where she fell and suffered serious injuries.

Thankfully the cooler conditions later in the week should minimise this threat of dangerous short-term heat related illnesses - however event goers should be reminded that these conditions do not completely shield you from harmful UV radiation from the sun.

Many are still unaware of the severe long term effects that the sun possesses - with a simple sunburn once every two years tripling your risk of developing a melanoma skin cancer.

Fans this year are expected to consume more than 150,000 ice creams and more than 200,000 bottles of water. However, all the ice-creams and water in the world still can’t protect you from the sun – which is why following the recommended S Factors below is essential.