Australian Open 2026: Schedule changed with 42C temperatures expected on Tuesday

Although all players are affected by extreme temperatures, Lapthorne highlighted the additional physical challenges facing wheelchair competitors.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, the 35-year-old men’s wheelchair doubles champion said: “There are players in our category who cannot sweat if they have a spinal cord injury.

“They don’t have the ability to cool down, so it can be very dangerous if they’re in really intense heat.

“I’ve had it [cramp] “On my forearm before because we push a wheelchair and we also hit the ball, and once it catches you, it can be very difficult to stop.”

While tournament organizers have been proactive in responding to the weather, not only changing schedules but also providing several facilities to help fans cool off, not all players will benefit from playing under a roof.

“You know who’s suffering the most? The junior players. They’re trying to play a couple of junior matches at 09:00, before they come back at 18:30 and hope the situation calms down,” BBC Sport tennis correspondent Russell Fuller told Australian Open daily.

“At 09:00, it’s still boiling. It’s tough for the juniors under these conditions. Some of them are 15 or 16 years old.”

John Cain Arena – Melbourne Park’s third roofed exhibition hall – is not scheduled to be in use on Tuesday.