The first match we’re going to focus on today is the opener on Rod Laver Arena between defending champion Madison Keys (9) and former world number 1 Karolina Pliskova.
The 30 year old American is a known commodity following her victory at Melbourne Park last year. She has done enough in her opening two rounds without yet hitting her straps, and she’s definitely not in the form of 2025.
The 33 year old Czech is into the third round of a major for the first time since the 2023 AO following a long battle with injury. At the 2024 US Open Pliskova badly damaged her ankle, requiring two surgeries, and sidelining her for over 12 months. Between 2016 and 2021 she was a regular contender for the biggest prizes on tour, reaching two grand slam finals and ascending to number 1 on the WTA rankings. She starts today 1057 on the standings.
Both players are power hitters with two of the biggest serves in the women’s game.
Despite their ages they’ve only met once before on tour with Pliskova winning in three sets back in 2020.
Is there a better single sporting competition to secure artistic action shots?
Emma John has penned a thoughtful column on the Australian Open’s Evonne Goolagong Cawley Day and how Australian sport remains locked in a battle between its celebration of multiculturalism and the condemnation of racism.
Ever wondered what it takes to become an AO ballkid?
Ok, on with the show. Let’s move into sporting mode by checking in on yesterday’s action, when there were positive signs for an increasingly confident Alex De Minaur.
But British hopes were dashed for another year when Cameron Norrie was beaten by Alexander Zverev.
Women’s singles favourite Aryna Sabalenka was pushed hard by Anastasia Potapova.
What all that means for today’s competitors is one hell of a slog, with the threshold for intervention extremely high.
One straw for them to clutch is that conditions are expected to be worse on Tuesday, when the opposite half of the draw will be in action.
This might be cold comfort for Sinner in particular, who will be taking the court around midday for what is likely to be his only daytime appearance at this tournament. Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz squeezed in their daylight obligations in more temperate conditions (both racing through in straight sets).
Some excerpts from The Australian Open Extreme Heat Protocol:
The AO-EHP takes into account the 4 environmental parameters that contribute to heat stress (air temperature, radiant heat, humidity & wind speed). It also takes into account the extent to which a person can control the rise in their body temperature and the physiological cost of doing so. These complex equations are expressed as a Heat Stress Scale (HSS) with stratified thresholds for cooling interventions.
In the event of extreme heat, the Referee has the right to suspend play or order a cooling break in accordance with this Australian Open Extreme Heat Protocol (EHP). The EHP applies to both the outdoor courts and the Arena Courts (Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena).
The EHP is based on the Australian Open Heat Stress Scale (AO-HSS) which has a scale of 1 to 5. AOHSS readings are continually made throughout each day of the Australian Open, including Qualifying.
Play is not suspended in singles competition until that scale hits the maximum 5, at which point the roof closes on the stadium courts and the outside courts are emptied.
At the time the AO-HSS reaches the thresholds noted above as relevant, the Referee may suspend the calling of any upcoming matches on outdoor courts. If matches on the outdoor courts have been suspended, the Referee may make the decision to close the roof or to keep the roof closed (as applicable) for any upcoming matches on the Arena Courts.
When that scale hits 4, cooling breaks are implemented. In the women’s singles that’s a ten minute respite between sets two and three, and for the men it’s ten minutes between sets three and four.
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of day seven of the Australian Open. Due to the extreme heat forecast play will get underway at Melbourne Park at the earlier time of 10:30am.
Today’s daytime schedule is dominated by the second half of the third round draw.
10:30am starts:
Karolina Pliskova v Madison Keys (9) (Rod Laver Arena)
Jessica Pegula (6) v Oksana Selekhmeteva (Margaret Court Arena)
Lorenzo Musetti (5) v Tomas Machac (John Cain Arena)
Karen Khachanov (15) v Luciano Darderi (22) (Kia Arena)
Not before 12pm starts:
Eliot Spizzirri v Jannik Sinner (2) (RLA)
Peyton Stearns v Amanda Anisimova (4) (MCA)
Elise Mertens (21) v Nikola Bartunkova (JCA)
Linda Noskova (13) v Xinyu Wang (KA)
Not before 2:30pm starts:
Ben Shelton (8) v Valentin Vacherot (30) (MCA)
The 10:30 starts should all proceed without incident but by noon the temperature will already have passed 30C and the likelihood of heat stress contingencies kicking in arise. When Ben Shelton and Valentin Vacherot are scheduled to take the court the mercury will be tipping close to 40C.
There’s plenty of news, insight, and weekend features coming up, but I need to set my aircon to arctic and loosen the straps on my ice vest. Feel free to get in touch while I’m away or whenever the blog is live at jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com.
