Extreme heat claims Krajicek in Melbourne

By Paul Tait

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – The Australian Open’s extreme heat
policy was invoked for the second day in succession on Saturday
but it came too late for Dutchwoman Michaella Krajicek, who
retired from her match suffering heat stress.

Third seed Amelie Mauresmo won the first set of her
third-round match against Krajicek 6-2 before the unseeded
Dutchwoman called for assistance at the change of ends.

Tournament medical staff checked Dutchwoman Krajicek’s
temperature and pulse as the 17-year-old sat courtside before
deciding not to continue.

Only minutes earlier tournament organizers had announced
that the heat rule was being invoked because the temperature
had risen above 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit).

By mid-afternoon the mercury had risen to over 38C (100F)
and even hotter conditions were forecast for Sunday.

Under the rule, new matches on outside courts will not
start until the temperature eases, although matches already
underway must be completed.

TEMPERATURE SOARED

New matches will also not begin on the two main courts, Rod
Laver Arena and Vodafone Arena, until the retractable roof over
both stadiums is closed after current matches are finished.

The roof was not immediately closed over Rod Laver Arena
because the match between Mauresmo and Krajicek had already
begun. It was closed after Krajicek pulled out.

“It is tough, obviously a little bit more for her than for
me,” Mauresmo said, adding she had drunk about two liters of
water during her brief match to guard against the heat.

The rule was also invoked on Friday as the temperature
soared to 40C (104F).

Frenchman Fabrice Santoro said after surviving a draining
five-set match on Friday that tournament officials should
consider lowering the temperature at which the rule is applied.

He admitted that he sacrificed the fourth set of his match
against eighth seed Gaston Gaudio to conserve energy before he
went on to win 6-3 6-2 5-7 1-6 6-4.

Mauresmo said court conditions changed dramatically when
the roof was closed and echoed men’s number two seed Andy
Roddick in saying that some players preferred to play in the
heat.

“Some players like it, to play in these conditions, and
want to play because they say, ‘I’m stronger physically so it
might be an advantage for me to play in these conditions’,”
Mauresmo said.