"Even before the first set and first hour of his match elapsed, Tomas Machac had asked the umpire for the tournament doctor, trainer and pickle juice, the drink du jour for tackling cramps. Those preventive measures taken in the intense early stages of his third-round tussle with Lorenzo Musetti proved to be sensible, for the pair would spend a brutal four hours, 25 minutes on court."
"Four hours of that took place inside an open John Cain Arena, a furnace in suffocating heat. We knew today was going to be really, really hot, Musetti said. I think I managed well to finish the match without cramping. Those early stages of Musetti's five-set win over Machac set the tone for an unusual day at the Australian Open as the heat arrived in force, inserting itself into the outcome of matches and wreaking havoc on the schedule."
"A cursory glimpse around the grounds on Saturday underscored what was to come. Anticipation of the heat convinced the organisers to start play half an hour earlier than usual at 10.30am. The first sight was St John Ambulance workers standing around. Stations offering free SPF50+ sunscreen were dotted across the grounds. From the start of play, long lines of spectators waited by the many water dispensers to refill their bottles."
Tomas Machac requested the tournament doctor, trainer and pickle juice before his match; preventive measures helped during a brutal four-hour, 25-minute match against Lorenzo Musetti. Much of that contest occurred inside an open John Cain Arena that felt like a furnace, and Musetti managed to finish without cramping. The heat arrived in force and disrupted the schedule, prompting organisers to start play half an hour earlier and stage visible medical and sun-protection services. Spectators queued for water and sunscreen. Some players, including Jessica Pegula and Karen Khachanov, emphasised ice towels, hydration, and overnight preparation to tolerate sudden high temperatures.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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