Aryna Sabalenka Expresses Relief Over Roof Closure at Australian Open Quarter-Final
World number one Aryna Sabalenka has openly discussed her appreciation for the partial roof closure during her Australian Open 2026 quarter-final match against Iva Jovic. The Belarusian tennis star highlighted the challenging heat conditions that have dominated this year's tournament, with temperatures frequently soaring around 40 degrees Celsius or higher.
Extreme Heat Conditions at Melbourne Park
The ongoing Australian Open has witnessed players battling extreme weather conditions, making the timing of roof closures at venues like Rod Laver Arena crucial for player safety and performance. Sabalenka, who secured a decisive 6-3, 6-0 victory over Jovic on Tuesday, acknowledged that the partial roof closure provided much-needed shade, allowing players to stand deeper in the court and avoid direct sunlight during critical moments.
"At the end of the match, it was really hot out there. I am glad that they kind of closed the roof halfway, so we had a lot of shade in the back, so we could go back and stand in the shade," Sabalenka stated in her post-match comments.
Sabalenka's Bold Statement on Women's Resilience
In a remark that has sparked conversation, Sabalenka suggested that women players demonstrate greater resilience in challenging conditions compared to their male counterparts. "It was hot out there. I guess yeah, as a woman we are stronger than the guys, so they had to close the roof so they don't suffer, you know?" she remarked, adding a playful yet pointed perspective to the discussion about athlete endurance.
Understanding the Heat Stress Scale Protocol
Sabalenka revealed her awareness of the tournament's heat management protocols, noting that authorities would not permit play under extreme heat conditions. She explained that the roof would have been fully closed if the Heat Stress Scale (HSS) had reached the 5-point mark. "I knew that going into this match, they won't let us play on crazy heat. If it would reach 5 [Heat Stress Scale], they would definitely close the roof. I knew they were protecting us, our health. When we were finishing, it was 4.4. So it was quite hot. It is okay," she elaborated.
Comparative Insights from Other Players' Experiences
The issue of roof timing has affected multiple players at this year's Australian Open. Reigning champion Jannik Sinner's coach, Darren Cahill, commented on Monday about Sinner's third-round match against Eliot Spizzirri, noting the Italian's fortune with the roof closure timing. Cahill emphasized that Sinner appeared exhausted during Saturday's match but managed to win in four sets, partly due to strategic pauses. "It's clear that Jannik was very lucky with the timing of the roof closure. Everyone on the team knew that, at some point, the match would be paused to deploy the retractable roof. Our goal was for him to hold on as best as he could until the end of the third set," Cahill explained.
This incident underscores the broader challenges players face in adapting to environmental factors during Grand Slam tournaments, with heat management becoming an increasingly critical aspect of competitive strategy and player welfare.
