Andy Murray v Novak Djokovic: Melbourne heat could force Australian Open final indoors
With the temperature forecast to be in the mid-30s when Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic start Sunday’s Australian Open final, the tournament director has been preparing for the possibility that he may have to activate the extreme-heat rule and close the roof over the Rod Laver Arena.
A decision on whether to shut the roof and to switch on the air-conditioning will be taken just before the players walk on court around 7.30pm local time, which is 8.30am British time, so it may not be until Murray is completing his preparations in the locker room that he is informed whether this grand slam final is to be played outside or inside.
Though this has generally been a very cool Australian Open, a high of 41 degrees C has been forecast for this afternoon, and it could be as warm as 34 degrees when the match starts in the evening.
If the roof is closed, it would be the first men’s grand slam final to be played indoors because of heat.
To determine whether conditions could endanger the players’ health, Tennis Australia use the 'Wet Bulb Globe’ measure, which includes factors such as humidity.
“The decision will be made just before play is due to start. That decision will be based on the conditions at the time and the forecast for the rest of the match,” tournament director, Craig Tiley, said last night.
Though this has generally been a very cool Australian Open, a high of 41 degrees C has been forecast for this afternoon, and it could be as warm as 34 degrees when the match starts in the evening.
If the roof is closed, it would be the first men’s grand slam final to be played indoors because of heat.
To determine whether conditions could endanger the players’ health, Tennis Australia use the 'Wet Bulb Globe’ measure, which includes factors such as humidity.
“The decision will be made just before play is due to start. That decision will be based on the conditions at the time and the forecast for the rest of the match,” tournament director, Craig Tiley, said last night.
“The players will be told immediately after the decision has been made.”
Murray, the runner-up to Roger Federer last January, ought to be hoping that the roof stays open and cooling systems stay off, as the warm conditions could help him to become Britain’s first male grand slam champion for 75 years.
On a hot night, the court would play a little faster and the balls would fly through the air a little quicker, suiting Murray more than Djokovic.
The Serbian can also be prone to breathing problems when it is hot, and there was an occasion here a couple of years ago when he retired against American Andy Roddick because of heat exhaustion.
Murray is once again just three sets away from becoming the first British man to win a major since Fred Perry was the 1936 US Open champion.
“If you go into the match with the mindset that you are playing for all those years of history, it is not going to help,” said Murray.
“I will go out there fired-up, but it will be to get myself ready for the next point, not to rewrite tennis history.”
Murray, the runner-up to Roger Federer last January, ought to be hoping that the roof stays open and cooling systems stay off, as the warm conditions could help him to become Britain’s first male grand slam champion for 75 years.
On a hot night, the court would play a little faster and the balls would fly through the air a little quicker, suiting Murray more than Djokovic.
The Serbian can also be prone to breathing problems when it is hot, and there was an occasion here a couple of years ago when he retired against American Andy Roddick because of heat exhaustion.
Murray is once again just three sets away from becoming the first British man to win a major since Fred Perry was the 1936 US Open champion.
“If you go into the match with the mindset that you are playing for all those years of history, it is not going to help,” said Murray.
“I will go out there fired-up, but it will be to get myself ready for the next point, not to rewrite tennis history.”
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