2016 Australian Open: Early Heat Policy possible as temperature could peak to 41C

The 2016 Australian Open expects glaring heat, as the temperature in Melbourne could rise up to 41 degrees Celsius, invoking the tournament’s heat policy as early as the qualifying matches.

According to Fox Sports, Australian Open tournament officials will monitor the expected sweltering of heat at Melbourne Park, where the first Grand Slam of the season will be hosted. The report added that officials have the power to suspend matches if the “ambient temperature” exceeds 40C and the wet bulb global temperature tops 32.5C.

Meanwhile, the 2016 Australian Open will bring in a pack of top talented tennis players from around the globe, headlined by the likes of Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka and Rafael Nadal. Canada’s Milos Raonic will also take part in the competition, bringing his momentum from defeating Federer in the final round of the Brisbane International earlier this month.

“There are two steps that I have to do [to win the Australian Open]: step up and play great for two weeks, I think I can do it,” Raonic said, reports Tennis World USA. “Then if you want to be the best player in the world you have to play well for 30 weeks.”

Djokovic, who defends his title at the upcoming Grand Slam event, is looking to carry his impressive start of the season while Federer and Nadal recuperate after failed bids to start the season on a winning note. Murray, world No. 2, hopes to win his first Australian Open title but admits it would be a tough task, with the Serb playing the best tennis of his career.

"My number one goal is to try and win here," Murray, who lost to Djokovic in the final round of last year’s Australian Open, told Sky Sports. "It would mean a lot because of how many times I've been close. You just have to keep trying to learn, watch his matches, try and see if there's any weaknesses there that you can capitalise on.”