The Australian Open remains an outdoor grand slam but this one will be won under a roof.
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Organisers closed the roof of Rod Laver area under the extreme-heat policy.
The decision to close the roof was unconnected, organisers said, to reports by ESPN that Simona Halep had to be admitted to hospital for four hours overnight Saturday for treatment for dehydration after her loss to Caroline Wozniacki in the final.
It was 38 degrees outside when the Roger Federer and Marin Cilic walked on court. The roof was closed and air conditioning turned on.
The decision to close the roof prompted criticism from, among others Pat Cash, who questioned why it would be closed for reasons other than rain for the outdoor event.
Roof closed????? #ausopen isn't this an outdoor tournament? Fed must of been rubbing his hands??? https://t.co/yTY01QviHt??? Pat Cash (@TheRealPatCash) January 28, 2018
The decision was made by the chief medical officer and the tournament referee under the extreme-heat policy where the wet bulb reading exceeds 32.5 degrees.
