Australian Open matches could be postponed due to smoke

Australian Open organisers will not hesitate to postpone matches at the grand slam should Melbourne's bushfire smoke haze be deemed too hazardous to play in.

Tennis Australia chief operating officer Tom Larner told media on Tuesday that hazardous smoke would be treated in the same way as extreme heat or rain, meaning players could be pulled off court and play postponed.

Australian Open practice was temporarily suspended on Tuesday morning, forcing qualifying matches to begin an hour late because of Melbourne's poor air quality. This decision was taken after consultation with "medical experts ... environmental specialists and scientists as well as the Bureau of Meteorology".

"We are treating any suspension of play a bit like a rain delay or a heat delay." Larner said. "We will stop if conditions become unsafe based on medical advice and once those conditions are safe to play we will get back on court.

"We have multiple [air quality measuring] devices across the site and we take into account a number of variables whether it be visibility, particulate matter … there are different levels. Based on those measures we will make a decision, [and] also based on medical advice as to whether we will play or continue play."

Tennis Australia chief executive officer and Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said they were also checking WTA and ATP guidelines on air quality and were consulting both player bodies about air quality decisions.

"We reiterated to the players we are making a decision based on expert advice and we are not going to put them in harms' way," Tiley said.

"This is a new experience for all of us, how we manage air quality, and therefore we have got to rely on those experts that advise us how best to continue."

He would not say if organisers would provide face masks for players and staff should they request them.

"The players would understand if we are putting them out to play in these conditions in which their tours themselves have supported, the conditions are OK to play," Tiley said.

"The expectation, because the long-term forecast and even the short-term forecast is good, and we will just take it a day at a time."

Play delayed in qualifiers

Players were forced to retire and abandon games at Melbourne Park and Kooyong on Tuesday afternoon after running into coughing and breathing difficulties.

Serbian Dalila Jakupovic had a coughing fit on court and was seen struggling on her knees and receiving medical attention in the second set of her qualifying match with Stefanie Vogele.

Canadian Eugenie Bouchard also needed medical attention after complaining of a sore chest after the second set of her qualifying match against You Xiaodi.

Play at the Australian Open qualifiers had been scheduled for a 10am AEDT start, before being pushed back to 11 due to poor air quality. The tournament said in a statement that "conditions onsite are improving and are being constantly monitored". Organisers had the option of moving games at the qualifiers indoors if needed.

"Further decisions will be made using onsite data and in close consultation with our medical team, the Bureau of Meteorology and scientists from EPA Victoria," the statement continued.

"As always the health and safety of our players, our staff and our fans is our priority."

Kooyong Classic organisers were also monitoring the smoke haze ahead of the tournament's scheduled start on Tuesday afternoon.

Play began as scheduled at 1pm but Maria Sharapova and Laura Siegemund decided to call their game off after almost three hours on court due to a combination of smoke and heat.

Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in a smoke haze on Tuesday morning.Credit: Eddie Jim

"The health and safety of the players, spectators and all involved in the Kooyong Classic event is
paramount," tournament director Peter Johnston said before the start of play on Tuesday.

"Matches may be rescheduled to a later start time today, if so required.

"Authorities are re-assessing the air quality and conditions for play hour by hour."

The rest of the games at Kooyong are set to go ahead.

Melbourne was blanketed by smoke on Tuesday morning, as shown here with this picture taken in Williamstown.Credit: Jason South