Rarely have the paths of Melbourne Park seemed so depopulated. This Tuesday, despite the multitude of misters and free sunscreen stations, the den of Australian tennis turned into a furnace. At its peak, the official thermometer of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology showed a terrifying 45°C, reached around 5 p.m. in the Victorian capital. A record level since 2009 and a “black Saturday” at more than 46°C.
In such heat and unbreathable air, no yellow ball bounces on the outdoor courts after midday. Only the two main courts, the Rod Laver Arena and the Margaret Court Arena, which have roofs, can host the quarter-finals of the singles tournament and some doubles of the Australian Open, the first major tournament of the season.
