Severe dust storm in Melbourne forces Australian Open bosses to delay play for more than two hours as dirty courts filled with mud are cleaned
- Tournament bosses delayed play on Thursday after rain left courts unplayable
- Dust storm was pushed over Melbourne on Wednesday night causing dirty rain
- Commentators said it was the first time such weather had led to a delay in play
- Muddy courts follow bushfire smog blanketing Melbourne Park during qualifying
Australian Open organisers suspended play on Thursday in what has been described as a tennis Grand Slam first after dirty rain left courts unplayable.
Worked armed with squeegees and high-pressure hoses rushed to clean the dirty surfaces, delaying matches by more than two hours on most of the courts.
The mud-filled rain fell on Melbourne on Wednesday evening after a dust storm was pushed over the city from Victoria’s north-west.
Worked armed with squeegees and high-pressure hoses rushed to clean dirty court surfaces after filthy rain fell on Melbourne on Thursday
Workers clean a court as overnight rain caused a delay in play on day four – which commentators claimed was the first caused by a dust storm
‘Due to the rain and dust overnight the outside courts need high pressure cleaning,’ organisers said.
‘Our team is working across Melbourne Park to prepare the outside courts for play.’
Show Court 3 was later declared ready for play to resume at 12.30pm, but rain at 1.30pm caused further delays.
International commentators claimed day four on Thursday was the first time a dust storm had caused a delay in play.
The dirty rain is just the latest hazard at a tournament beset by meteorological mishaps.
Smog from bushfires hit hazardous levels during qualifying, leaving players with coughing fits and breathing problems and triggering a rash of complaints.
An Australian Open staff member cleans a dirty outside court at the Australian Open on Thursday
A line of groundstaff prepare a court at Melbourne Park ahead of play following a dust storm
Although the haze cleared before the tournament’s start on Monday it was replaced by torrential rain.
The rain in turn wiped out half of the day’s schedule and caused a backlog of matches.
Strong winds then buffeted Melbourne Park on Wednesday, giving players further problems as balls blew off-course and wobbled in the air.