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 Despite water bottles melting, ballboys collapsing and players
vomiting and passing out when temperatures exceeded 40 degrees
Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for four days at this year's
tournament, play was stopped for only four hours on the outer
courts.
There was a groundswell of criticism from players, mainly over the
lack of transparency about when the policy would be implemented as
it was entirely at the discretion of the tournament referee and not
triggered by temperatures reaching a certain level.
Tournament director Craig Tiley said on Tuesday the addition of a
roof over a third showcourt, the Margaret Court Arena, would
mitigate the effects of hot weather and he hoped the changes to the
policy would make matters clearer to players.
"The heat policy, as always, will be applied at the referee's
discretion," Tiley told reporters.
 "The decision on implementing the heat policy will take into account
the forecast once the ambient temperature exceeds 40 degrees
Celsius, and the Wet Bulb Global Temperature (WBGT) reading exceeds
32.5.
"When conditions exceed these levels the referee is taking into
account the forecast and state of play when making his discretionary
call."
Rather than use the raw Celsius readings to assess the heat,
organizers prefer to use the WBGT composite, which also gauges
humidity and wind to identify the perceived conditions.
In another change, when the policy is enacted matches in progress
will continue until the end of an even number games in that set or
completion of tie break, limiting the exposure of players to the
heat.
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The loudest complaints in January came from Canadian player Frank
Dancevic, who lambasted organizers after collapsing during his first
round match on an uncovered outside court.
"I think 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," he said.
"Having players with so many problems and complaining to the
tournament that it's too hot to play, until somebody dies, they're
just keep going on with it and putting matches on in this heat."
Meteorologist Bob Leighton said long-range forecasts indicated that
there would be no similar heatwave this year at the Jan 19-Feb 1
tournament at Melbourne Park.
"At this stage it's looking like a normal summer, perhaps slightly
warmer, with only one day hitting around 40 degrees, and little or
no rain forecast," he said.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, editing by Greg Stutchbury)
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