10 lesser known facts about the Australian Open

#9 The tournament is played under the harshest weather conditions

The Australian Open is played under immense heat which has forced the tournament organisers to adopt the Extreme Heat Policy

January is the summer season in Australia and there is a lot of humidity in the country during the period when the Australian Open is being played. Temperatures rise up to 45°C which is roughly 113°F. The conditions make it really hard for the European players to adapt and on numerous occasions, the ball boys feel ill due to the heat; one such instance occurring last year when Carla Suarez Navarro escorted an ill ball boy off the court.

Due to the intense heat, the Extreme Heat Policy has been adopted by the tournament organisers where the umpire can suspend any match whenever the heat becomes unbearable for the players. Due to these harsh conditions, a number of retractable roofs have been constructed which has been helpful towards the players as well as the spectators.