| Maria Sharapova complained about the extreme heat policy of Australian
Open as she had to continue the started match in the 40°C
temperatures.
According to Australian Open Tournament heat policies, any unstarted matches
were suspended, however any started matches had to continue no matter
how high the temperatures rise.
Which meant tough conditions for players already on the courts.
Maria Sharapova finally won the match against French player Camille Pin, but
said that it's inhuman to go on playing in such extreme
temperatures. She added that "Human bodies were not made to play tennis in
such extreme conditions. My mind did not work properly the last stages
of the set, and it was impossible to concentrate fully." Maria
Sharapova exercised her right for a medical timeout after the second
set of the tennis match. Another tennis player who had to finish the
match in such hot temperatures, said "It's not about who is better
player in this heat, it's who is more tolerant to heat." The player
also questioned why Australian Open officials did not stop the matches
after the temperatures rose above 40 degrees.
Another victim of extreme heat, French tennis player Julien Benneteau passed out
after he lost the game to Paul Capdeville. Later Julien Benneteau
commented that he thought about quitting several times during the
tennis match, and was pushing himself to the limits. He felt sick
during the fifth set and became scared. After the match he had a
medical help from the tournament doctor, and was suffering from
dehydration.
Australian Open tournament, however allowed players to use ice-filled
tubes around necks to help tolerate the heat. Maria Sharapova was one
of the players who took advantage of such cooling vests.
Despite from the tough matches which mad to go on in high
temperatures, by the tournament
rules, all unstarted matches were suspended, creating a backlog in the
tournament schedule. Officials have to reschedule the whole Australian
Tournament now. |
Maria Sharapova complained about intolerable extreme heat at Australian Open during her first-round match. Spectators felt it too. In other words, Australian Open spectators think Sharapova is hot.
