Soaring temperatures take toll in Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Jan 16 (Reuters) Australian Open organisers invoked their extreme heat policy to protect players and officials as soaring temperatures took their toll at Melbourne Park today.

With the mercury falling just short of 40 degrees Celsius, the tournament referee said the retractable roofs on the two showpiece courts would be closed. The start of matches on outside courts was delayed for an initial period of an hour.

Belgium's Christophe Rochus became the first casualty to the draining weather today, withdrawing with breathing problems after 13 games of his first-round match against France's Sebastien Grosjean.

Organisers can kick start their extreme heat plans when the thermometers pass 35 degrees and when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, a combination of ambient air temperature and humidity, exceeds 28 degrees.

Players are also able to use ice vests when the heat exceeds 26 degrees.

Russian top seed Maria Sharapova was among the players to take advantage of the ice vests -- ice-filled tubes worn round the neck to fend off the punishing heat -- during her first-round match against France's Camille Pin on Rod Laver Arena.

Her match, which included a 10-minute heat break after the second set, was played with the roof open as rules stipulate it can only be closed between matches.

The roof will be retracted when Spanish second seed Rafael Nadal faces Robert Kendrick in the second match of the day on the showpiece court.

Reuters PM GC0947