Rain Delays Early Matches at Australian Open with Stormy Conditions

Vegas Tennis Team
2 Min Read

MELBOURNE, Australia — A sudden deluge of heavy rain led to the suspension of matches on the outside courts just an hour into the first day of the prestigious Australian Open.

Meanwhile, on the iconic Rod Laver Arena, Zheng Qinwen, the reigning Olympic champion and last year’s runner-up, found herself in a gripping match against the talented 20-year-old qualifier, Anca Todoni, shielded from the weather in one of the three covered stadiums at Melbourne Park.

Just moments after completing the pre-match ceremonies on the main court—including the coin toss, officiated by Australian tennis legend John Newcombe—the action was temporarily paused as the roof was swiftly closed to protect the players from the increasing rain.

As the match continued indoors, the rain outside intensified, prompting spectators to hurriedly seek refuge from the downpour. Consequently, tournament officials made the call to suspend all play on the outside courts until at least 2 p.m. local time.

Among the matches disrupted was one featuring Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, who was leading Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva 5-3 in the first set at the time of the interruption.

With showers anticipated to linger into the evening, fans anxiously awaited the resumption of their favorite games.

–with contributions from Sportsnet

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