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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Australian Open qualifying matches delayed due to poor air

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Australian Open qualifying matches delayed due to poor air
Australian Open qualifying matches delayed due to poor air

The Australian Open's qualifying matches are delayed and practice temporarily suspended due to poor air quality.

SHOWS: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (JANUARY 14, 2020) (NINE NETWORK - Broadcasters: NO USE AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND / PAPUA NEW GUINEA Digital: NO USE AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, PAPUA NEW GUINEA-BASED INTERNET SITES, MOBILE PLATFORMS OR SITES OF MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS BASED IN THOSE COUNTRIES, NVO CLIENTS/ SMH.COM.AU/NEWS.COM.AU) 1.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) CEO OF TENNIS AUSTRALIA, CRAIG TILEY, SAYING: "As you all know and I say this consistently is the health and well-being of, not only the players, the fans, our staff is of utmost important and any decision we make will be around that, the health and well-being of that group.

So, today, this morning, when we got up the smoke haze was significant and based on that advice, we made a decision to suspend practice and as a result to start the matches, the qualifying matches, an hour later than it was originally scheduled.

During the period of when we suspend the practice and we started the matches, there was an improvement in the conditions and also then we took the advice, the medical advice as well as the scientist advice and out of the meteorology and made the decision to continue with play at 11 o'clock (0000GMT)." 2.

WHITE FLASH 3.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) TENNIS AUSTRALIA CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, TOM LARNER, SAYING: "So, we have multiple devices across the site and we take into account the number of variables, whether it be visibility, particulate matter, there are different levels of particulate matter, PM2.5, PM10.

And, based on those measures, we'll be making decisions across a range, the based on medical advice as to whether we won't play or continue to play." REPORTER: SO HOW BAD WAS IT THIS MORNING?

"The air quality was poor this morning.

So, based on the air quality and the readings on site we made the decision to suspend play, push back qualifying and continually to monitor air quality on site." STORY: The Australian Open's qualifying matches were delayed on Tuesday (January 14) and practice temporarily suspended due to poor air quality as smoke from bushfires raging across the country blanketed Melbourne in a thick, grey haze.

The games were scheduled to start at 1000 am local time (2300 GMT January 13) but did not get underway until about 1130 (0030GMT) after Victoria state's environment watchdog said air quality had plunged to "hazardous" levels overnight.

Tournament organisers said practice at Melbourne Park was also suspended in the morning.

The bushfires have affected a number of elite sporting competitions involving soccer, rugby league and cricket, and poor air conditions have raised fears for players' health at tennis's first Grand Slam.

(Production: Juarawee Kittisilpa)

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