Australian Open hot spots deserted as wet weather deals tournament another blow

Hot spots usually buzzing with people at the Australian Open are empty as the tournament grapples with continued wet weather.

The Australian Open is off to an incredibly rocky start.

Not only was Australia forced to enter its home grand slam without its top-ranked male and female player, but it’s only day three and both extreme heat and rain have already managed to throw the match schedule completely out of whack, frustrating players and fans.

On Wednesday, spectators swapped sunscreen and hats for umbrellas and ponchos.

A walk around dreary Melbourne Park found popular areas, which were buzzing with people as the sun shone in the first two days, now almost deserted.

The rain has suspended play on outdoor courts for hours.

Disappointed tennis fans huddled in groups at vendors selling hot drinks and food, and under whatever shelter they could find to wait out the rain.

Aussie fan favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis’ first round match at a packed Kia Arena on Tuesday was delayed due to heat and then interrupted five times by rain before the call was finally made just before midnight to reschedule to Wednesday.

But as of 5pm Wednesday, Kia Arena is still yet to hold a match.

Rain interrupted Thanasi Kokkinakis’ match against Fabio Fognini five times on Tuesday. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Spain’s Cristina Bucsa and Canada’s Bianca Andreescu – originally scheduled for 11am – still need to hit the court before Kokkinakis can finally finish his match against Italy’s Fabio Fognini. The match was called off with Kokkinakis leading 6-1 6-2 4-2.

Aussie Max Purcell is also still waiting to play his unfinished match from Tuesday on court seven. He is two sets to one down and facing a tie-break in the fourth to stay in the match.

Thankfully, matches on Rod Laver, Margaret Court and John Cain Arena were able to continue through the heat and rain on Tuesday and Wednesday with the roof at each closed.

The Australian Open’s extreme heat policy was activated about 2pm on Tuesday when the tournament’s heat stress scale reached five. Play on outside courts did not resume until 5pm and then was later disrupted by rain.

The heat stress scale takes into account air temperature, the strength of the sun, humidity and wind speed.

The weather is just another blow for the tournament this year after top Australian players Nick Kyrgios and Ajla Tomljanovic pulled out at the last minute.

Nick Kyrgios withdrew from the Australian Open due to injury on Monday. Picture: David Caird

Kyrgios pulled out suddenly on Monday due to a knee injury, while only two days before, Tomljanovic also pulled out explaining she hadn’t recovered from her own knee injury in time.

The late withdrawal of the two Aussies, in addition to Spain’s Paula Badosa, has been dubbed “the Netflix curse”.

All three players starred in Netflix’s new documentary series Break Point.

The 2023 Australian Open is also missing Ash Barty, who retired last year and is now pregnant with her first child.

Other big names who are absent include Naomi Osaka, who is also pregnant with her first child, World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, and Venus Williams.

Originally published as Australian Open hot spots deserted as wet weather deals tournament another blow