Play was suspended at the Australian Open on Tuesday afternoon because of extreme heat. With the temperature into the mid-30s, the tournament’s heat stress scale, which also takes into account humidity and wind speed, hit five just after 2pm, meaning play was stopped on the outside courts.
Among those affected was British number two Dan Evans, who had just taken a two-sets-to-one lead over Argentina’s Facundo Bagnis in the first round. Play continued under the roofs on Rod Laver, Margaret Court and John Cain arenas.
This comes amid controversy of the banning of the Russian flag after one was displayed at a match between Russian and Ukrainian players. The display drew a sharp rebuke for organisers from the Ukrainian ambassador to Australia, and Tennis Australia has now announced that Russian and Belarusian flags will not be allowed at Melbourne Park for the rest of the tournament.
