The organisers, players, and fans all have an opinion.  While fair competition is important everyone should agree that safety should be made priority.  As weather conditions change so does the need for monitoring them so that safety concerns can be addressed.  Yes, these athletes train in similar conditions and generally are more fit than most average people.  Stil, the drive in these same athletes to win can sometime cloud their own judgement.  We have seen many instances of marathon runners, football players and other outside related sporting events where athletes have died as a result of heat stoke.  Sometimes we hear about them, sometimes we don’t.  When we do hear about them there is always a feeling of shock and sadness.  “How could this happen?”  Well it does.

I think the Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley had some good insight and suggestions in his interview in “The ROAR your sports opinion” http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/01/29/australian-open-organisers-defend-heat-policy/#comment-112121

Extreme Heat Policy
The Australian Open Extreme Heat Policy (EHP) will be applied at the Referee’s discretion and may be altered at any time.

At the Referee’s discretion, when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature only (WBGT) is equal to or above the pre determined threshold, the Referee may suspend the commencement of any further matches on outside courts.

Any matches currently in progress will continue until the end of the current set. At the completion of the set, play will be suspended.

Where play in any match commences outdoors (or with a roof open) and the WBGT temperature is equal to or exceeds the pre determined threshold, the match will continue until the completion of the set. At the end of the set a decision may be made by the Referee to close the roof for the remainder of the match and the following matches, when the EHP is still in effect.

A roof will only be closed because of extreme heat if a decision has been made by the Referee to suspend the completion or commencement of matches on the outdoor courts.

Supplement for women’s singles and junior singles only; to allow a 10 minute break between the second and third sets when a WBGT reading of 28 has been recorded prior to the calling of the match by Tournament Control. Readings are continually made throughout the day.

The 10 minute break will not apply between the second and third sets, if play had previously been suspended after the first set due to the EHP.