Brutal heat triggered a five-hour suspension of matches on outside courts at the Australian Open Saturday as Novak Djokovic powered to another landmark win.
Players and spectators roasted on day seven at Melbourne Park, where temperatures soared to 38C.
The tournament’s Heat Stress Scale hit the highest level of five in the early afternoon, prompting the suspension on courts without roofs and play did not resume until after 7:00 pm.
On a dramatic day on and off court, reigning champions Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys moved into the last 16, as did 10-time winner Djokovic.
Swiatek, the second seed from Poland, survived a roller coaster to beat 31st Russian seed Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 1-6, 6-1.
Serbian great Djokovic is on his latest mission to win a record 25th Grand Slam crown.
The 38-year-old swept past Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) on Rod Laver Arena.
He becomes the first player to win 400 Grand Slam matches.
“I’m still around. I’m hanging in there,” said Djokovic, who has looked in ominous touch, yet to drop a set.
His reward is a meeting with Czech rising star Jakub Mensik.
Before that, Sinner admitted he was saved by the roof in his meeting with the American Eliot Spizzirri on Rod Laver Arena.
Play was stopped for about 10 minutes because of the baking heat, allowing time for the roof to close.
Sinner had been suffering from cramp in the fierce sun.
But with the roof shut he pulled through 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 over a gruelling 3hr 45min.
“I struggled physically a bit today as you saw. I got lucky with the heat rule, they closed the roof,” said the second seed.
