Extreme Heat Policy and WBGT Factor – Ice vests and sunblockers: The Australian Open will experience the first major heat wave in 2018 in the next few days. Doctors such as DTB doctor Didi Wolter urge caution.
From Ulrike Weinrich from Melbourne
The Australian newspapers are already warning of the approaching heat wave. The Happy Slam will at least be turned into the Hot Slam for the first time:”The 40 degree Celsius mark is to be reached in Melbourne on Thursday and Friday. Especially on the main courses, temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius can occur,”said DTB doctor Didi Wolter in conversation with tennisnet.
The physician from Berlin recommends the use of ice vests when changing sides and the use of the ice tubs in the stadium wing “to cool down the body temperature”. It is important that the players drink two to three litres of water during the matches,”Only in this way can the oxygen content in the blood be sufficiently maintained and the concentration maintained over the duration of the matches,”explained Wolter.
The Extreme Heat Policy (EHP) could also be applied as early as Thursday. Matches are interrupted when the so-called WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) factor, which can be calculated from temperature, UV radiation, wind and humidity, exceeds the magical limit of 32.5 degrees Celsius.
Angelique Kerber, Melbourne champion of 2016, once revealed her secret recipe for Aussie heat:”You have to make friends with the weather. Mental and physical preparation is the key. Especially as the water-blue Plexicushion coating on the courts can heat up to 50 degrees Celsius.
For this reason, the physios in the changing room tell the pros how to behave in extreme conditions. Many people don’t think about salt loss, which can lead to cramps,”said Tim Woods, the tournament’s longstanding physician.
Several professionals lower their body temperature before walking onto the court with the help of the bathtubs in the changing rooms. The water is often below ten degrees Celsius. Scientific studies have shown that an athlete withstands a lot of heat for longer if he starts the race “undercool”. Scenarios such as 2014 should be avoided.
On the second day of the tournament, a total of nine pros gave up on account of the consequences of the heat (up to 43.9 degrees Celsius) on that day. A year later, a visitor sued the city of Melbourne for failing to close the roof of the Hisense Arena despite the extreme temperatures – and falling down the stairs in search of shadows.
The spectators on the Yarra River can also get good advice at the 105. the second edition of the event. The orange-coloured sunscreen tubes with sun protection factor 50 will be distributed free of charge during the 14 days of the tournament. For years now, large fans on the system have also offered the opportunity to refresh themselves.
In addition, there are the inaudible announcements every few minutes, which remind you of the fact that hats on and enough to drink – otherwise, the Happy Slam will not cause such a funny collapse of the heat. And then, for all too reckless sun worshippers, the unique flip-flop mood of the first major of the year is gone in one fell swoop.