Australian Open extreme heat policy
The Extreme Heat Policy is a rule pertaining to the Australian Open (tennis). It was introduced in 1998 after consultation with a number of tennis players.
Following severe criticism of the handling of the 2014 Australian Open, organisers increased the temperature threshold from the 2003 level of 35 to 40 °C (95 to 104 °F) and increased the wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) threshold from the 2003 level of 28 to 32.5 °C (82 to 91 °F) to allow for more continuous play and fewer stoppages in the future.
WBGT charts show that the new threshold may not be triggered even if the temperature reaches 50 °C (122 °F) when there is no humidity.
When the policy is implemented, matches will now be halted after an even number of games in the set, rather than at the conclusion of the set.
There will also be a retractable roof available on Margaret Court Arena for the first time.
In 1988, Rod Laver Arena opened making the Australian Open the first Grand Slam to feature a retractable roof. The initial heat policy allowed for the roof to be closed when the temperature rose above 39 °C (102 °F) or at the referee's discretion when the temperature rose above 35 °C (95 °F), but only for daytime matches and only once all singles matches could be scheduled inside Rod Laver Arena. This effectively meant that the heat policy could only go in effect in the quarterfinals or later in the tournament.
Officials considered closing the roof for the final in 1993 due to a temperature of 40 °C (104 °F), but Jim Courier threatened to boycott the match unless the roof remained open.
The heat rule was first invoked during the quarterfinal round in 1997.
In 1998 a new policy was implemented calling for play on all courts to be stopped if the temperature reached 40 °C (104 °F). This was later changed in 2002 to 38 °C (100 °F).
The 2002 women's final was played in 35 °C (95 °F) heat, which triggered a 10-minute break between the 2nd and 3rd sets but no halt in play.
Beginning with the 2003 tournament the policy was changed to 35 °C (95 °F) and a WBGT of 28 °C (82 °F).
The new policy was invoked on January 20, 2003 on a day when the temperature reached 37 °C (99 °F) and the WBGT reached the 28 °C (82 °F) mark. Play was halted for the minimum 2 hours.
After the extreme heat policy was invoked in consecutive years in 2006 and 2007, the policy was again changed starting in 2008 to allow matches in progress to be halted at the conclusion of the set. Prior to that a match already underway had to be completed. The policy was further changed in 2008 to allow play to be stopped only at the discretion of the tournament referee, rather than relying solely on temperature and WBGT calculations.
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