Extreme Heat Halts Play at Australian Open as Djokovic Advances and Osaka Withdraws
Extreme heat forced officials to suspend matches on outside courts for nearly five hours at the Australian Open on Saturday, as temperatures at Melbourne Park climbed to 38°C.
The tournament’s Heat Stress Scale reached its highest level, prompting organisers to stop play on courts without roofs from early afternoon. Matches resumed only after 7:00 pm when conditions improved.
Despite the disruption, Novak Djokovic continued his strong run, reaching the last 16 of the tournament. Defending champions Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys also advanced to the fourth round.
However, two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka withdrew from her third-round match due to an abdominal injury. She announced her decision just hours before she was scheduled to face Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis.
Osaka shared her disappointment on Instagram, saying the withdrawal “breaks my heart.” Inglis will now face second seed Iga Swiatek in the last 16.
Swiatek overcame a tough challenge earlier in the day, defeating Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 to secure her place in the next round.
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