Air quality in Melbourne is hazardous because of Australian bushfires and all eyes are on the Australian Open organizers as to how they will handle the very difficult task of protecting the audience and players while at the same time carrying out the season’s first Grand Slam. After players were virtually suffocating during Tuesday’s qualifying, the situation wasn’t better on Wednesday, as practice and matches were delayed due to air quality concerns, while subsequent rain further messed up with the schedule.
A week ago, organizers claimed that action at the Australian Open would be confined to the three stadiums with retractable roofs and eight indoor courts if conditions were to become hazardous, but what we’re having now are qualifiers greatly struggling to complete their matches and comparing the air to cigarette smoke.