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Australian Open hardens extreme heat policy for 2015

Players were issued with iced towels as sweltering conditions at the 2014 Australian Open took their toll © Getty Images

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The Australian Open organisers have updated their extreme heat policy following criticism of the 'inhumane' conditions players competed in during the 2014 tournament.

The tournament referee will make a ruling on whether or not to suspend play once the temperature reaches 40C, while the wet bulb global temperature (WBGT) threshold - which also takes into account humidity and wind direction - has been revealed for the first time.

Previously, there were no set guidelines for triggering the extreme heat policy.

"The heat policy, as always, will be applied at the referee's discretion," Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley told the Australian Open website.

"The decision on implementing the heat policy will take into account the forecast once the ambient temperature exceeds 40C, and the 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. We've been gathering data for a number of years now and the forecast process is more sophisticated than ever before.

"We believe this update will clarify and streamline the communications process for both players and support staff. We've consulted the playing group and this is seen as the fairest way to implement the policy by many of the top players.

"The other major difference from previous years is that matches currently in progress will continue until the end of an even number games in that set or completion of tie break," Tiley added.

"At the completion of the even number of games in that set or completion of tie break, play will be suspended."

Three of the show courts at the Australian Open now have retractable roofs, which are typically used to protect players and spectators from the sun rather than the rain at the height of the Melbourne summer.

The organisers are confident that temperatures in 2015 will not rival those experienced during this year's January heatwave, when a number of players, officials and fans fell victim to the sweltering conditions.

Andy Murray was among the players to voice his concerns after temperatures hit 42C during the first week, fearing someone could suffer a heart attack.

Among a rash of worrying incidents, Canada's Frank Dancevic played on after fainting and later described the conditions as "inhumane", while US Open semi-finalist Peng Shuai vomited courtside before play was suspended.

That's how hot it was. Thank you everybody for being so persistent and passionate about our sport. @ AustralianOpen pic.twitter.com/pc7hAUbHQm

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 17, 2014

"It only takes one bad thing to happen," Murray said in January. "And it looks terrible for the whole sport when people are collapsing, ball kids are collapsing, people in the stands are collapsing.

"Whether it's safe or not, I don't know. There's been some issues in other sports with players having heart attacks."

Australia has just experienced its hottest month since records began.

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