Severe Weather Causes Chaos on Day One of Australian Open
Australian Open Disrupted by Rain
The first day of the Australian Open has been disrupted by heavy rain and thunderstorms in Melbourne.
Matches at the season-opening Grand Slam tournament started as scheduled at 11:00 local time (00:00 GMT) on Sunday. However, players on the outer courts were forced off about an hour later.
Delayed Matches
Play will not resume at Melbourne Park until at least 17:00 (06:00 GMT) due to the inclement weather. Only matches scheduled on Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, and John Cain Arena - all with roofs - could be played.
Three matches were completed by 15:00 (04:00 GMT). Notable wins included Chinese fifth seed Zheng Qinwen and teenage Russian 14th seed Mirra Andreeva in the women's singles, and French 20th seed Arthur Fils in the men's first round.
Player Delays
Players like Sonay Kartal, the only Briton in action on Sunday, had their matches delayed. Kartal was set to face Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro at 14:00 (03:00).
Challenges Faced by Players
Fans arriving at the Australian Open on Sunday had to endure heavy rain, resulting in poor visibility at the venue. The wet courts posed challenges for players like Sonay Kartal as they prepared for their matches.
Conclusion
The 2025 Australian Open faced a turbulent start due to adverse weather conditions, impacting players and fans alike. Despite the delays, the tournament continues with hopes of better weather in the coming days.
