Mist tunnels, water machines and sun umbrellas are provided throughout Melbourne Park to help people cool down

Australian Open Alters Schedule as Melbourne Hits 42°C

Australian Open Shifts Schedule as Heatwave Intensifies

The Australian Open 2026 has once again been forced to alter its schedule as temperatures in Melbourne soar to 42°C, marking the second extreme-heat disruption in four days.

With a severe heat warning issued across Victoria by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, tournament organisers made swift changes to safeguard players and spectators alike.

Wheelchair matches, involving British champions Alfie Hewett, Gordon Reid, and Andy Lapthorne, have been postponed until Wednesday.
Junior matches have been rescheduled for an earlier 09:00 local time (22:00 GMT) start on outside courts.
The four singles quarter-finals, including world No.1s Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka, will go ahead as planned but indoors on Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena — both equipped with retractable roofs and air conditioning.

Organisers have not confirmed whether the roofs will be closed from the start, but the forecast strongly suggests that’s likely.

Lapthorne: “Some Players Can’t Sweat”

Sinner received on-court medical attention during his third-round match

Quad wheelchair champion Andy Lapthorne warned of serious health risks for some players.

“There are players in our category who can’t sweat due to spinal injuries. That means they can’t regulate body temperature. It’s dangerous,” said Lapthorne on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

Lapthorne recalled suffering cramp in his forearms while pushing his wheelchair and striking the ball — a unique challenge in extreme heat.

Juniors Bear the Brunt of the Heat

Junior players, many just 15 or 16 years old, have been hit hardest by the scheduling challenges.

“They’re asked to play at 09:00, then return at 18:30. But even in the morning, it’s boiling,” explained BBC’s Russell Fuller on the Australian Open Daily podcast.

Notably, John Cain Arena – which also has a roof – will not be used on Tuesday, leaving many outside matches exposed to the elements.

Sinner Benefits from Heat Rule on Saturday

Men’s second seed Jannik Sinner admitted he “got lucky” with the heat suspension during his four-set win over Eliot Spizzirri on Saturday.

Trailing by a set and a break in the third, Sinner was cramping when the heat stress scale reached the maximum level (5), triggering an official stoppage and roof closure.

He used the eight-minute break to recover, broke immediately upon resumption, and went on to win:

4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 — with the court cooling to 26°C under the roof.

Why Does Melbourne Get So Hot?

The intense heat stems from northerly winds dragging hot, dry air from central Australia (like Alice Springs) down to Melbourne. When the wind direction switches south, cooler Antarctic air returns, creating the city’s notorious temperature swings.

For players, that means unpredictable match conditions, with sudden swings of 15–20°C possible in a matter of hours.