Australian Open: Organisers keep watch on air quality from bushfire smoke

Australian Open authorities are monitoring the deteriorating air quality in Melbourne.

Bushfire smoke haze and light rain hang over Melbourne CBD on Monday. Picture: David Crosling

Australian Open authorities are monitoring the deteriorating air quality in Melbourne amid concerns the grand slam may be disrupted by smoke from the bushfire crisis.

The smoke haze worsened in the Victorian capital on Monday, recording a rating of 138.8, with wary officials mindful they may need to halt play at stages later this month.

Tennis Australia, in conjunction with the ATP Tour, has ­already relocated a $180,000 tournament from Canberra to Bendigo due to the alarming conditions in the nation’s capital.

Seven-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic aired his concerns about the health ­implications for players, and tournament director Craig Tiley said experts would be consulted throughout the event, with qualifying beginning next week.

“Assessing the likelihood of smoke-induced interruptions is a bit like how we treat heat and rain,” Tiley said.

“We have experts who analyse all available live data as specific to our sites as possible and consult regularly with tournament officials and, in the case of heat and smoke, medical experts.

“We have access to real-time monitoring of air quality at all of our venues and are working closely with medical personnel and local experts onsite to ensure we have the best possible information available to make any decisions ­regarding whether play should be halted at any point.

“The health of players, fans and staff is a priority at all times and we will continue to make these decisions with that in mind.”

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Kooyong Classic tournament director Peter Johnston is also mindful that the exhibition event running from Tuesday to Thursday could be affected by the haze.

He said the priority would be the health of players, staff and spectators.

Tickets for the Rally for Relief to be held at Melbourne Park on Wednesday week are on sale as TA works to finalise details of the charity fundraising event.

There will also be a Music for Relief concert at Melbourne Park on the eve of the Australian Open, while fundraising activities will occur during the Kooyong Classic.

“The support of the tours, players, our partners, our clubs and other tennis bodies around the globe has been overwhelming,” Tiley said.

“We aim to turn that into millions of dollars of aid for the affected communities and are also putting another $1m toward ­rebuilding tennis infrastructure.

“The inordinate loss of people, wildlife, stock, homes, schools and businesses is going to require an extraordinarily widespread effort to get these families and communities back on their feet.”