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Extreme heat claims Krajicek in Melbourne

Posted on: Friday, 20 January 2006, 23:38 CST

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.

Source: REUTERS

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