HOT TENNIS

There was no confusion about the Extreme Heat Policy at Melbourne Park on Thursday, the second day of what forecasters were tipping could be a once-in-a-century heat wave.

The retractable roof was closed over Rod Laver Arena long before the first match and all outdoor matches were postponed.

Elena Dementieva and Carla Suaraz Navarro sweated through a two-set match in 40C (104F) temperatures Wednesday before Serena Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova played through 42C (107F) heat in the first set of their quarterfinal.

Then the tournament's Extreme Heat Policy came into effect and the roof was closed. Lucky, too. The temperature rose above 43C (109F).

Melbourne's heat wave continued on Day 11 of the Australian Open with the temperature topping 44C (111F) — making it Melbourne's hottest January day since 1939 — and more of the same forecast through Saturday.

The roof was reopened for the night semifinal between Roger Federer and American Andy Roddick as Melbourne's unpredictable weather saw the temperature drop 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) in the evening. Federer won in straight sets.