Australian Open: Rod Laver Arena roof is too cool for Marin Cilic

Marin Cilic

Marin Cilic hit out at the decision to close the roof on Rod Laver Arena for the Australian Open final yesterday, saying he was not prepared for the much cooler conditions. Organisers can only activate the tournament extreme heat policy and call matches off or shut the roof when the temperature is 40 Celsius and the wet bulb globe temperature index hits 32.5 Celsius. When the umpire called time to commence the match, the wet bulb temperature was 32.6 and forecast to remain high. "The tournament referee made this decision based on qualified and professional advice from the Bureau of Meteorology and the tournament's chief medical officer," organisers said. It was the first time during the 2018 event it had been invoked.

"I played all my matches outdoors. I was preparing for a hot day, 38 degrees," the Croatian said after losing to Roger Federer in five tough sets. "Then first match, for the final, to play with the roof closed, it's difficult. I have to say that decision, could it have been different? I guess so. It was just a little bit difficult to adjust.

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