Video Information


Below: During the 2014 Australian Open, Ausopen.com produced a video segment explaining the supports that were available to players to help them deal with the heat. It also gives some detail on the operation of the extreme heat policy.




Below: On January 14, 2014, the BBC ran a report on the heat conditions at the Australian Open.




Below: ESPN Sports Science released a two minute report on the effects of extreme heat on tennis players, the balls and the racquets.




Below: On January 16, 2014, ESPN interviewed the tournament director of the Australian Open on what lies behind the decision to invoke the extreme heat policy.




Below: British player Andy Murray commenting on heat issues at the Australian Open.






Web links, documents


On January 12, 2013, The Age ran a report on the economic and tourism benefits enjoyed by Melbourne as a result of hosting The Australian open. The piece is titled 'Melbourne's smash hit' and can be accessed at http://www.smh.com.au/travel/melbournes-smash-hit-20130111-2ck9e.html

On January 13, 2014, Rappler published a report from Agence France-Presse titled 'Officials play down extreme heat risk at Australian Open'
The full report can be accessed at http://www.rappler.com/sports/world/47847-australian-open-heat-risk

On January 14, 2014, The Chicago Sun-Times reported on the extreme heat being endured during the second day of play at the Australian Open. The report was written by Douglas Robson and is titled 'Fainting, vomiting at Australian Open as temps reach 108 degrees'.
The full text of the report can be accessed at http://www.suntimes.com/sports/24960615-419/story.html

On January 14, 2014, The Washington Post reported on the extreme heat being endured during the second day of play at the Australian Open. The report was written by Kelyn Soong Robson and is titled 'Australian Open affected by heat wave'.
The full text of the report can be accessed at http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2014/01/14/australian-open-affected-by-heat-wave/
On January 14, 2014, IOL Sport South Africa reported on the extreme heat being endured during the second day of play at the Australian Open. The report was written by Talek Harris and is titled 'Oz Open marred by fainting, vomitting.
The full text of the report can be accessed at http://www.iol.co.za/sport/tennis/oz-open-marred-by-fainting-vomitting-1.1631441#.UuRbB7RxXIX

On January 14, 2014, BBC Sport News reported on the extreme heat being endured during the second day of play at the Australian Open. The report was written by Russell Fuller and is titled 'Australian Open 2014: Dancevic complains of "inhumane" treatment'. The report which includes some analysis and comment can be accessed at http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/tennis/25724815

On January 15, 2014, the United States sports report, The Bleacher Report, published a comment titled, 'Australian Open 2014: Why Grand Slam Tournaments Need to Be Rescheduled' which argued that because of regularly adverse weather conditions all the grand slam titles should be held at different times of the year.
The full text of this comment can be accessed at http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1923931-australian-open-2014-why-grand-slam-tournaments-needs-to-be-rescheduled

On January 15, 2014, the specialist tennis website, The Changeover, published a comment titled, 'This Australian Open Extreme Heat Policy Is Ridiculous'
The full comment can be accessed at http://www.changeovertennis.com/australian-open-extreme-heat-policy-ridiculous/

On January 15, 2014, The Guardian published a comment by Kevin Mitchell arguing that extreme temperatures were to be expected at The Australian Open and players needed to be able to deal with them.
The title of the comment is 'Tennis is tough, and heat at the Australian Open is part of that'
The full text of this comment can be accessed at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/jan/15/australian-open-2014-heat-tennis

On January 15, 2014, The Guardian published a comment by Chris O'Neil arguing that players should not be required to play in conditions of extreme heat.
The piece is titled 'Australian Open 2014: Heat a danger for players, says former champion' and the full text can be accessed at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/jan/15/australian-open-2014-heat-danger-players-inhumane-chris-o-neil

On January 15, 2014, TVNZ ran a news report titled 'Heat divides players on day of Aussie Open carnage' The report focuses on the mixed reactions from players to the conditions of extreme heat.
The full text of this report can be accessed at http://tvnz.co.nz/tennis-news/heat-divides-players-day-aussie-open-carnage-5800189

The Science of Sport is a specialised Internet site dedicated to supplying the science behind a range of issues in contemporary sport.
On January 16, 2014, The Science of Sport published an article by Dr Ross Tucker titled 'Melting in Melbourne: Thoughts on the heat' The report looks at the physiological effects of heat on athletes and how these can be dealt with.
The full text of the report can be accessed at http://www.sportsscientists.com/2014/01/melting-in-melbourne-quick-thoughts-on-the-heat/

On January 16, 2014, Lean Blitz published a comment by Chad Walters titled 'Playing Australian Open In Extreme Heat Shows No Respect For People'
The full text of the report can be accessed at http://leanblitzconsulting.com/2014/01/playing-australian-open-extreme-heat-shows-respect-people/

On January 16, 2014, BBC News published a health report by Philippa Roxby, the BBC health reporter, titled 'Too hot for tennis? The impact of heat on players'.
The report examines in some detail the physical effects of heat on athletes and suggests how these can be countered.
The full report can be accessed at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25758278

On January 16, 2014, BBC Sport News published a report titled 'Australian Open: Medical officer defends extreme heat policy'. The report details a range of player criticisms and Tom Wood's defence of the decision to continue play.
The full text of this report can be accessed at http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/tennis/25755065

On January 16, 2014, The Washing Post ran a news report and analysis by Cindy Boren titled 'Australian Open play suspended: How hot is too hot?'
The full report can be accessed at http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2014/01/16/australian-open-play-suspended-how-hot-is-too-hot/

On January 16, 2014, The Conversation published a specialist report on the effects of heat on the human body, especially the bodies of elite tennis players.
The piece is titled 'How heat can make your body melt down from the inside out' and was written by Donna Green, a senior lecturer and researcher at the Climate Change Research Centre,
The full text can be accessed at http://theconversation.com/how-heat-can-make-your-body-melt-down-from-the-inside-out-22042

On January 16, 2014, BBC Sport News ran a report titled 'Australian Open: The challenges of playing in 40C heat'
The report looks at the physical stresses created by playing in extreme heat and how they can be minimised.
The full text of the report can be accessed at http://tevel1.com:81/sport/0/tennis/21045745

On January 16, 2014, The Guardian ran an article considering the possible effects of climate change and its contribution to the extreme temperatures being experienced at the Australian Open.
The piece is titled 'Is the Australian Open tennis feeling the heat of climate change?' and it can be accessed in full at http://www.theguardian.com/environment/planet-oz/2014/jan/16/australia-tennis-open-climate-change-extreme-heat

On January 17, 2014, The Roar published an opinion piece by Adam Julian titled 'Should the Australian Open move out of the summer heat?'
The comment presents arguments for and against a change in the time when the Australian Open is held.
The full text of this comment can be found at http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/01/17/should-the-australian-open-move-out-of-the-summer-heat/

On January 17, 2014, The Telegraph ran a news report indicating that the Association of Tennis Professionals will be considering what measures should be adopted to protect players from the effects of extreme heat at its next meeting in March 2014.
The report is titled 'Australian Open 2014: ATP to reconsider its extreme heat policy after player meltdown in Melbourne heat' and it can be accessed at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/australianopen/10580334/Australian-Open-2014-ATP-to-reconsider-its-extreme-heat-policy-after-player-meltdown-in-Melbourne-heat.html

On January 18, 2014, The Sydney Morning Herald ran a report titled 'ATP to review extreme heat policy' The full report can be accessed at http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/atp-to-review-extreme-heat-policy-20140118-3113t.html

On January 18, 2014, The New York Times ran a comment by Greg Bishop titled 'At the Australian Open, It's Not the Heat, It's the Stupidity' The comment is extremely critical of the manner in which the Australian Open of 2014 has been conducted.
The full text of the comment can be accessed at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/18/sports/tennis/players-are-not-cool-with-australian-open-heat-policy.html?_r=1

On January 19, 2014, The Age ran a report titled 'Heat on Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley' detailing the tournament director's response to criticisms of the way in which the extreme heat policy had been implemented at the Australian Open.
The full text of the report can be accessed at http://www.theage.com.au/sport/tennis/heat-on-australian-open-tournament-director-craig-tiley-20140118-3120w.html