The Australian Open’s Extreme Heat Policy is the tournament’s safety system for dealing with Melbourne’s most predictable wildcard: brutal January heat — and it was triggered on Saturday, January 24, as temperatures surged at Melbourne Park. It sets out when organisers can add extra recovery time for players, shift matches onto roofed arenas, and, in the most severe conditions, suspend play on outside courts altogether. The goal is simple: reduce the risk of heat illness, keep decision-making consistent across courts, and stop the tournament turning into a survival show.
It’s not just “the temperature”
The policy is driven by a heat-stress rating (often referred to as a heat stress scale) that takes into account more than the number on the scoreboard. Officials consider a mix of factors such as air temperature, humidity, wind and the intensity of radiant heat from the sun. That matters because 34°C with a breeze can feel manageable, while 32°C in still, sticky conditions can feel like running in a sauna.
Who makes the call?
The Tournament Referee has the authority to apply heat measures across the site. Medical staff, supervisors and tournament operations feed in information, but the final decision on suspending outside play or implementing breaks sits with the referee, using the policy’s thresholds and the conditions on the day.
What happens at high heat levels
The policy is designed to escalate in steps rather than slam the brakes immediately.
When conditions reach a “high” threshold
At the level commonly associated with Heat Stress Scale 4, the tournament can introduce an additional heat break to give players time to cool down and reset.
In singles, that break is typically:
- Women’s singles: a 10-minute break between the second and third sets
- Men’s singles: a 10-minute break between the third and fourth sets
This is meant to be a targeted intervention: not a full stoppage, but enough time for ice towels, fluids, and medical attention if needed.
When conditions reach the “extreme” threshold
At the top end of the scale (often referred to as Heat Stress Scale 5), the tournament can suspend play on outside courts. Matches that are already underway outdoors may be stopped at a controlled moment, rather than mid-point, so players aren’t left stranded in unsafe conditions while still keeping scoring and scheduling as orderly as possible.
This is also when you typically see the tournament lean heavily on its roofed stadium courts. If the schedule can be moved under a closed roof, organisers will often do it, because it allows play to continue in a more controlled environment even while the outside courts are shut down.
Does it stop the whole tournament?
Not necessarily. “Extreme heat policy invoked” often means outside courts pause, while show courts with retractable roofs keep going. That’s why you can have a packed main arena with tennis underway, while the outer courts sit empty and the schedule is reshuffled like a deck of cards.
What it means for players
Once the policy escalates, players are affected in three big ways:
- Physical management: more cooling opportunities, more medical oversight, and fewer exposure minutes in direct sun
- Competitive fairness: fewer “one player cooked, the other fine” situations depending on court and time slot
- Routine disruption: warm-ups change, matches get moved, and momentum can be interrupted by suspensions or delays
Importantly, when outside play is suspended, restrictions can extend beyond matches. Practice courts can be affected too, because “keeping players safe” doesn’t only apply once the chair umpire calls time.
Why the Australian Open needs it
Melbourne’s summer conditions can swing from pleasant to punishing in hours. The policy exists because history has shown that leaving heat decisions to ad hoc judgement creates confusion, inconsistency, and unnecessary risk. A threshold-based system gives the tournament a clear framework, helps players know what to expect, and reassures fans that decisions aren’t being made on vibes and guesswork.
How fans can tell it’s been triggered
You’ll usually spot it quickly:
- Outside-court matches are paused and no new matches start outdoors
- Scheduling changes push more tennis onto the roofed arenas
- Announcements mention “extreme heat policy” or “heat stress scale”
- Play restarts only after conditions drop back below the extreme threshold
The takeaway
The Australian Open’s Extreme Heat Policy is a graduated response system. At high heat levels it adds recovery time, and at extreme levels it can suspend outside play and rely on roofed arenas to keep the tournament moving. It’s not theatre, it’s triage: a practical plan for a Grand Slam staged in a city that occasionally decides to impersonate an oven.