It’s been all sunshine and heat at the Australian Open so far. Melbourne has scorched under 30°C to 40°C temperatures through the day, with the heat taking its toll on players and ballkids alike. Play rolled on without pause, but this time, the weather had other plans.

Rain has crashed the second-round party this Wednesday, throwing an unexpected twist into the schedule. Play came to a sudden halt as a heavy downpour hit, forcing officials to stop all matches. The word from the grounds crew? Play should resume in 25-40 minutes or so in the following matches once they close the roof.

Three men’s singles matches were caught mid-action on courts with retractable roofs. Once the rain clears and the surfaces dry, those duels will resume right where they left off. Home favorite Alex de Minaur is locked at 6-7(5), 6-2 against Hamad Medjedovic on Rod Laver Arena.

Over at Margaret Court Arena, Frances Tiafoe and Francisco Comesana are level at 2-2 in the opening set. On John Cain Arena, Alexander Zverev leads Alexandre Muller 6-3, 4-6, 4-2 in another tight clash.

The rain is pounding down now, hammering Melbourne Park with real intent. It looks like fans will have to wait a good hour before the skies settle and the tennis drama picks up again.

Update: After a bit of waiting, the players are back under the roof on Rod Laver Arena, where Alex de Minaur resumes his charge for a third-round spot after leveling his contest with Hamad Medjedovic at one set apiece. The crowd’s energy lifts as the Aussie steps up again under the lights.

There’s still some moisture lingering on John Cain Arena, so play remains on hold for the moment. Alexander Zverev looks poised, waiting to extend his advantage as he closes in on a 2-1 lead over Alexandre Muller once the court is cleared. On Margaret Court Arena, Frances Tiafoe is already back in rhythm against Francisco Comesana. The opening set stays on serve, and the rallies are heating up as the evening session gathers pace.

However, while the rain caused a halt in the players’ matches today, before it was the sun that served as the culprit to the halts at the Australian Open.

Ball kids struggle with heat at Melbourne Park

Temperatures often blast past 40°C [104°F], and even the Extreme Heat Policy can’t always cool things down. The 2026 edition proved that again on January 18, when Ekaterina Alexandrova’s match came to a sudden halt after a ball kid collapsed. It was a sharp reminder that the Aussie summer doesn’t play around.

At 1573 Arena, the scene turned tense as the match heated up. Alexandrova was serving to close out the second set when a ball girl suddenly dropped beside the umpire’s chair. She tried to stand but looked shaken under the blazing sun. The moment brought the intense opening-round clash to an unexpected pause.

Without hesitation, Zeynep Sonmez dashed across the court. She helped the girl to her feet and walked her to the sideline, waiting with her until medical staff arrived. The ball girl was quickly moved into the shade for treatment, a gesture that showed a softer side amid all the competition.

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To prevent situations like this, the Australian Open relies on its strict Extreme Heat Policy. “When the heat climbs too high, it’s no longer just uncomfortable; it can be dangerous.” Officials can stop play to protect players from extreme conditions, just like in 2023 when 36°C heat and a level-five stress reading forced outdoor matches to pause.

The 2026 policy keeps key safeguards in place, including a 10-minute cooling break triggered at 30.1°C WBGT or higher. Players can take it after the second set to recover and reset.

As for the rain delays, that can only be managed by drying the court and pausing play. Sometimes for hours, depending on intensity. Today’s matches experienced an hour-long delay due to the downpour, and whether fans will see more interruptions remains to be seen.