Australia: As Melbourne braces for a sizzling weekend, the Australian Open has moved all Saturday play to earlier in the day after forecasts predicted temperatures could soar up to 40 °C — extreme for both players and fans at Melbourne .
Tournament director Craig Tiley said organisers expect “pleasant conditions tomorrow morning, in the mid-20s,” and that moving matches earlier will let everyone make the most of cooler hours before the heat peaks in the afternoon.
New Saturday schedule:
Main arena courts (Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, John Cain Arena) now begin at 10:30 a.m. local time.
All other matches will kick off from 10:00 a.m..
This shift, which brings play forward by 30–60 minutes, is part of the event’s extreme heat policy — a system introduced to protect player health and safety. If temperatures or heat stress rise further, additional measures like cooling breaks or play suspension could be used.
American men’s seed Tommy Paul summed up the challenge: “It’s not a lot of fun playing in those temperatures,” highlighting how tough conditions can get when the sun blazes.
Several marquee names, including Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys are among those scheduled to play on Saturday, making the earlier start crucial not just for comfort but competitive fairness.
Meteorologists warn that this heat is part of a broader pattern affecting much of south-eastern Australia, making heat preparation and safety a priority on and off the court.
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