A heat wave is over Melbourne. Already at lunchtime, the temperature had barely passed 30 degrees, and the crowd at the Australian Open’s second day are cooling off as best they can under parasols and displayed dehumidifiers.
The temperature is expected to rise further in the afternoon, which could cause problems for spectators and players.
World number five Aryna Sabalenka is easily through to the second round of the Australian Open, after defeating Czech Tereza Martincova in straight sets, 6–1, 6–4.
Sabalenka comes from Belarus but competes under a neutral flag. She has shown fine form at the start of the year where she won the WTA Adeleide tournament without losing a single set.
That trend continues into the first grand slam of the year. To a question in the post-match interview on the pitch about how she managed to upload, she answers:
– I do not know. We did everything right, we worked right and had our families with us. I think that was why, she says.