Alize Cornet won't be as difficult an opponent Saturday for Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open. For that matter, Sharapova won't be as difficult an opponent for Cornet, either.
That both labored through grueling three-set matches in the second round was hard enough. Cornet, the No. 25 seed from France, beat Italy's Camila Giorgi 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in a 2 ½-hour match. Third-seeded Sharapova then went out and beat Italy's Karin Knapp 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 in 3 ½ hours.
But temperatures in Melbourne on Thursday was at 42 degrees Celsius, or more than 107 degrees Fahrenheit.
Australian Open organizers had to invoke the Extreme Heat Policy, theglobeaendmail.com reported, as the temperature rose to 42 degrees - more than 107 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures were expected to reach 44 Celsius, or above 111 degrees Fahrenheit.
That meant the suspension of several outer-court matches at the end of sets, according to theglobeandmail.com. Matches on the show courts were allowed to continue, but organizers had the retractable roof closed between sets at the Rod Laver and Hisene arenas.
The special-conditions policy allowed women's matches to have an extended break after the second set and players to wear ice vests in the changeovers.
Cornet broke down in teras after the match during an interview that for some reason took place on the court.
"I think I spent enough time on this court for today," she said, as reported by thglobeandmail.com. "I went really further than my limits. It was really hot, that's why I'm so emotional.
"Doing something physical in this heat it's just unbelievable. Even you guys (in the crowd) sitting in the sun, it must be terrible."
Fortunately for Cornet, Sharapova and the rest of the tournament field, temperatures on Saturday are supposed to reach 21 degrees Celsius, or almost 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
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