A new extreme heat policy that dictates when it is safe to play will be introduced at next month’s Australian Open to better deal with frequent oven-like conditions on court. The “Heat Stress Scale” will be used for the first time at a Grand Slam to help prevent players from fainting and suffering exhaustion, relying on more weather-measuring devices at Melbourne Park. Organizers said it followed “cutting-edge research and testing into the specific effects of heat stress on tennis players”. If the heat stress scale goes to five, play can be suspended. One of the worst years for heat at the Open was 2014, when many players were in trouble.

Source: Egypt Independent December 29, 2018 03:33 UTC