Having already taken enough heat for not stopping matches earlier, blistering temperatures finally halted play on Day 4 of the 2014 Australian Open as a high temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded nearby.
The Extreme Heat Policy was enacted at Melbourne Park just before 2 p.m. Thursday, suspending all matches on outer courts until the early evening and requiring the closure of the retractable roofs at Rod Laver and Hisense arenas before play could continue on the show courts.
It was the first time since 2009 play had been halted due to heat at the Australian Open.
“This heat is roughly on par with what was in place in early June in Phoenix,” said weather.com senior meteorologist Jon Erdman. “The MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks would have the roof closed and air conditioning on when playing home games in similar conditions.”
