The Australian open tennis is one of the most challenging of all the Grand Slam tournaments due to the often extreme hot weather that often descends on Melbourne each January when the tournament is played. Being the first Grand Slam Tennis Tournament on the international tennis calendar the tournament attracts most of the big name players on the international circuit regardless of the heat. The temperature can easily reach, and often exceed, 40 degrees Celsius. Management of the Australian Open Tennis tournament have included various ‘heat clauses’ in the tournament rules as well as installing a retractable roof over the main court that can be closed if the heat becomes to extreme or rain threatens play. The main stadium for the Australian Open is Rod Laver Arena, named after the only person, and an Australian, to have twice won all four Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments in one year. The Australian Tennis Open is held in January each year at the Melbourne Tennis Stadium. Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena are the two main courts with other matches played on the outer courts. The other international grand slam tennis tournaments are: the French Open played in Paris, Wimbledon in London and the US Open played in New York. Continue reading →