BERLIN - Tennis players have spoken out against the Australian
Open on Tuesday after qualifying matches for the grand slam
tournament were allowed to take place and later suspended due to poor
air quality conditions.
One player, Dalila Jakupovic of Slovenia, was forced to retire from
her match at 6-4, 5-6 against Swiss Stefanie Voegele when she sunk to
her knees with an episode of uncontrollable coughing.
"I was really scared that I would collapse," Jakupovic told the
Australian Associated Press.
"I just couldn't breathe anymore and I just fell on the floor. It's
not healthy for us."
Canada's Eugenie Bouchard required medical assistance before
completing a three-hour match and certain players are unhappy with
the tournament organisers.
World number five Elina Svitolina wrote on Twitter: "Why do we need
to wait for something bad to happen to do an action."
Frenchwoman Alize Cornet added: "This is not reasonable."
A thick haze of smoke developed overnight in Melbourne due to the
raging bush fires that have claimed at least 27 lives in Australia.
The air quality reached "hazardous" on a warning scale of six levels
and was described as "the worst in the world" by Victoria State Cheif
Health Officer Brett Sutton.
Australian Open organizers do have air quality procedures in place
for players including the use of eight indoor courts at Melbourne
Park with air monitoring equipment installed to detect any danger.
"This is a new experience for all of us in how we manage air quality,
so we have to listen to the experts," Australian Open tournament
director Craig Tiley said.
The Australian Open main draw begins on January 20.