What to know about the heat policy at the Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — With extreme temperatures forecast for Saturday, the Australian Open started matches an hour earlier than usual on all courts at Melbourne Park.

The predicted hot weather meant the tournament's Extreme Heat Protocol, which works on a scale based on environmental conditions including the actual temperature, would be put into play.

Here’s what to know about the Australian Open’s Extreme Heat Protocol:

The Australian Open introduced the Heat Stress Scale in 2019, a measure from 1 to 5 that takes into account four climate factors: air temperature, radiant heat, humidity and wind speed.

It was developed to provide consistency for all players and minimize the risk of heat-related illness.

It sets thresholds for cooling interventions. In the event of extreme heat, the tournament referee has the authority to suspend play or order extra cooling breaks.

Play is automatically suspended when the index hits 5 in women’s and men’s singles.

The referee may suspend the calling of any upcoming matches on outdoor courts. And if matches on the outdoor courts have been suspended, the referee may make the decision to close the roof — or to keep the roof closed — for any upcoming matches on the arena courts.

The referee will make the decision as to when to call for the resumption of play, and each player must be given at least a half-hour of notice prior to the resumption of play.

When the index reaches 4, organizers can impose an extra 10-minute break between the second and third sets in women’s singles matches and between the third and fourth sets in men’s singles.

In an arena stadium, if the roof is closed before the end of the first set in a women’s singles match or before the end of the second set in a men’s singles match, there will be no extra cooling breaks.

The humidity was low — around 20% — when play on Day 7 started, and dropped slightly as the temperature increased.

The Index hit 4 around 1:30 p.m. local time, with the temperature approaching 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit).

Organizers encouraged spectators to wear hats, apply sunscreen and drink water, make use of shade and other cooling areas on site and allow extra time for arrival.

Lorenzo Musetti of Italy plays a forehand return to Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Karen Khachanov of Russia wraps an ice towel around his neck during a break in his third round match against Luciano Darderi of Italy at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Spectators watch third round matches at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. gestures during her third round match against compatriot Peyton Stearns at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Jannik Sinner of Italy takes a drink during his third round match against Eliot Spizzirri of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Hendrix Lapierre ended a 90-game goal drought, Alex Ovechkin had an empty-netter and the Washington Capitals beat the Calgary Flames 3-1 on Friday night to end a four-game losing streak.

Aliaksei Protas also scored and Logan Thompson made 25 saves against his hometown town.

Morgan Frost scored for Calgary, and Devin Cooley stopped 35 shots. In the third, Cooley denied defenseman Jacob Chychrun's lacrosse-style wraparound attempt on a power play.

Protas broke a tie at 7:35 of the third. When Cooley slid to his left to defend against Tom Wilson, a rebound squirted out to the Belarusian, who fired the puck into an open net.

Lapierre tied it at 1 at 6:33 of the second. John Carlson's shot deflected off the leg of Yan Kuznetsov and onto Lapierre’s stick for the 23-year-old’s first goal since March 18, 2024, which also happened to be against Calgary. He has 10 career goals,

Calgary countered a Washington short-handed, odd-man rush with a power-play goal on the Flames’ next trip down the ice. Frost bear Thompson with a wrist shot below the goalie’s outstretched stick at 6:09 of the first.

Capitals: At Edmonton on Saturday night.

Flames: Host Anaheim on Sunday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Washington Capitals' Hendrix Lapierre, left, celebrates after his goal against the Calgary Flames with John Carlson, right, during second-period NHL hockey game action in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Larry MacDougal/The Canadian Press via AP)

Washington Capitals goalie Logan Thompson (48) makes a save against Calgary Flames' Connor Zary (47) during first-period NHL hockey game action in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Larry MacDougal/The Canadian Press via AP)

Washington Capitals' Ryan Leonard, front left, and Calgary Flames' Yan Kuznetsov, right, battle in front of the Flames' net during second-period NHL hockey game action in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Larry MacDougal/The Canadian Press via AP)

Washington Capitals' Justin Sourdif (34) looks for a rebound as Calgary Flames goalie Devin Cooley makes a save during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Larry MacDougal/The Canadian Press via AP)

Washington Capitals' Aliaksei Protas, right, celebrates his goal against the Calgary Flames with teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Larry MacDougal/The Canadian Press via AP)