Melbourne Heat Wave: Just a Mental Thing, Deal With it Says Roger Federer at Australian Open [PHOTOS]
The Melbourne heat wave seems to be getting the better of the Australian Open 2014 players and fans. Two weeks of high octane tennis plus the heat can make for a lethal combination, as the players are experiencing now.
According to a ABC News report, The temperature hit a high of 42.5 degrees Celsius at 5:45pm on day 2 of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park and was over 40 from 2pm as players and fans suffered the heat.
Canadian qualifier Frank Dancevic collapsed on court during the second set of his first round match against Frenchman Benoit Paire.
"I was dizzy from the middle of the first set and then I saw Snoopy and I thought, 'Wow Snoopy, that's weird'," Dancevic told reporters. "I couldn't keep my balance anymore and I leaned over the fence and when I woke up people were all around me."
China's Peng Shuai was seen vomiting on court as a result of the extreme weather, reports Yahoo. Other complaints include "softening of the shoe soles" according to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Caroline Wozniacki claimed her water bottle melted.
While certain players like Roger Federer chose to simply deal with the heat, some others decided to drink more liquid to prevent dehydration during their match.
"Depending on where you come from it has a bigger effect on you, this type of heat, than maybe humid heat," Federer said after his opening round win on Tuesday. "So it's very personal, and it can become just a very mental thing and you just can't accept that it's hot. Just deal with it, because it's the same for both."
Australian Open tournament referee Wayne McKewen said conditions were hot and uncomfortable but there was no need to invoke the extreme heat policy, reports Ninemsn.
However, Dancevic seems to be in disagreement: "I think it's inhumane, I don't think it's fair to anybody, to the players, to the fans, to the sport, when you see players pulling out of matches, passing out," he said. "Having players with so many problems and complaining to the tournament that it's too hot to play, until somebody dies, they're just keep going on with it and putting matches on in this heat. I personally don't think it's fair and I know a lot of players don't think it's fair."
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