Melbourne VIC, Australia, 16 January 2014 | tennis.com.au

The extreme heat policy has been enforced at the Australian Open today for the first time in 2014.

The ruling means current matches being played will be suspended at the conclusion of the set and no scheduled matches on outside courts will start until conditions improve, at this stage that is scheduled for 6pm today.

This means;

– The roof on Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena will be closed at the end of the set.

– Once closed, it remains shut until the end of the match.

– Play will be suspended at the end of the set on all outside courts until further notice.

– No matches will be called to outside courts while the Extreme Heat Policy is in place.

– No practice will be held on outside courts while the Extreme Heat Policy is in place.

– The Policy will be in place for a minimum of an hour.

– It is reviewed every 30 minutes and a minimum of 30 minutes’ notice will be given to players prior to it being lifted.

– There will be no play on the outside courts before 5pm today AEDT.