Hot Topic

[Tennis Miller]

I'm happy the court surface is no longer made from old tires. Everyone would have been in trouble out there yesterday - they'd plant their foot and stick.

Read that the players are taking ice baths before going out to play in order to lower their core temperature. Not healthy to force the athletes to perform in this kind of heat.

Yeah, good thing it's no longer made of tires alright, but either way Novak and Rafa will probably have a Goodyear

Yes, and it's so hot right now it must feel like they're playing on Firestone.

Cheers
TM

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

they were the reasons the hc surface was changed a few years back wasn't it ??

the old hc good too hot in the sun and injuries were more likely.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

Melbourne airport is a touch over 37c 99f at 10am :s

reports of todays play (Thursday) could be the hottest day with possible highs of 44c 111f..surely play has to be suspended today for a few hours between say 3pm and 7pm ??? :huh:

 

[Front242]

Melbourne airport is a touch over 37c 99f at 10am :s

reports of todays play (Thursday) could be the hottest day with possible highs of 44c 111f..surely play has to be suspended today for a few hours between say 3pm and 7pm ??? :huh:

And then 21C (70F) on Saturday. That's some drop! 21-25C (70-77F) through next Wednesday. That's gonna really make things a bit easier for everyone.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

^^yes we might see some decent tennis from saturday onwards..

feel like we have been watching practise sessions so far..and the fans have been to hot to cheer much.

 

[Front242]

I won't see any more till Tuesday next week so I hope Fed makes it that far but unless he starts playing better it'll take a miracle. The weather changes should help his chances at least. Only match I can see in the next hour or so is Screamapova's but I'll watch a bit in the hope it's the last one I have to endure of hers

 

[GameSetAndMath]

So, finally we get the long awaited match suspension and roof closing.
Matches to go on in RLA and HA.

Starting from next year AO will have 3 more roofs than USO as
Margaret also will put her tops on.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

they think they can restart play at 4pm local time on the courts :huh:

...I DONT THINK SO :nono..The 3pm readings were all around 42c 108f at sites in area..its 42 c and the organising gimps think they will restart soon :dodgy:

7pm maybe.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Does anyone know the mystry behind the WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature)?

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Yesterday, the commentators were saying something weird by quoting some doctor.
They were saying that a player has more chances of hurting themselves by overhydrating
than by under hydrating in this hot weather? Does anyone think it is true?

 

[Moxie]

Yesterday, the commentators were saying something weird by quoting some doctor.
They were saying that a player has more chances of hurting themselves by overhydrating
than by under hydrating in this hot weather? Does anyone think it is true?

This is currently fashionable to say, but I think they should be very cautious about throwing that around without explaining. With sweat, you lose salt and "electrolytes" (by which I generally mean "lots of other important stuff.") With too much water, and water only, you can continue to sweep out salts, potassium, and other important things that keep bp up, etc. That IS dangerous. However, I'm sure these athletes are taking in sports drinks, bananas, GU, etc. They need to be well-hydrated before the day, too. But no one should take that to mean you should restrict water.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Yesterday, the commentators were saying something weird by quoting some doctor.
They were saying that a player has more chances of hurting themselves by overhydrating
than by under hydrating in this hot weather? Does anyone think it is true?

This is currently fashionable to say, but I think they should be very cautious about throwing that around without explaining. With sweat, you lose salt and "electrolytes" (by which I generally mean "lots of other important stuff.") With too much water, and water only, you can continue to sweep out salts, potassium, and other important things that keep bp up, etc. That IS dangerous. However, I'm sure these athletes are taking in sports drinks, bananas, GU, etc. They need to be well-hydrated before the day, too. But no one should take that to mean you should restrict water.

But, the commentators never went into that route. The way they were talking it looked
as though they were suggesting players should not drink too much just because it is hot.

What you are saying makes sense. But, I am not sure that is what they were talking
about.

 

[Moxie]

Yesterday, the commentators were saying something weird by quoting some doctor.
They were saying that a player has more chances of hurting themselves by overhydrating
than by under hydrating in this hot weather? Does anyone think it is true?

This is currently fashionable to say, but I think they should be very cautious about throwing that around without explaining. With sweat, you lose salt and "electrolytes" (by which I generally mean "lots of other important stuff.") With too much water, and water only, you can continue to sweep out salts, potassium, and other important things that keep bp up, etc. That IS dangerous. However, I'm sure these athletes are taking in sports drinks, bananas, GU, etc. They need to be well-hydrated before the day, too. But no one should take that to mean you should restrict water.

But, the commentators never went into that route. The way they were talking it looked
as though they were suggesting players should not drink too much just because it is hot.

What you are saying makes sense. But, I am not sure that is what they were talking
about.

I'm pretty sure it is that. I read a lot about marathon running, etc., and I read in general population news about "dangers of over-hydration." I think it's a dangerous notion for casual athletes to suggest they might over-hydrate. Most of us never get to a circumstance where we could over-hydrate. We should all drink our 8 glasses +. In a circumstance like those at the AO, where an athlete is working hard and sweating in extreme conditions for a long period of time, and if they're only taking water, they could flush out so much salt from their body that they can't hold they water that they need, anymore, to maintain healthy blood pressure. You understand that you need a certain amount of salt in your body to hold onto your water. You lose a lot of salt in sweat. In the old days, like Chris Evert said tonight, the athletes took salt pills. Now sports drinks are designed to replace lots of the other things you lose, as well. The tennis players need to be taking in other things besides water, for that reason. If they take only water, they are just helping flush out salt, etc., and could get to a place of low bp, risking fainting, or worse. I'm pretty sure that's what they mean.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I agree with your analysis and I think you are right on.

But, I am not sure whether the commentators were talking about that. They were
simply saying that a doctor said it is more dangerous to over-hydrate without giving
much explanation. It seemed counterintuitive to me and to them as well. In fact,
I remember Darren saying, what is the big deal of over-hydration, if needed go to
bathroom more often.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

^^yes you can 'over-hydrate'..in fact believe it or not..if you drink too much water too fast you can have a risk of death,,its got an actual name but I cannot remember what..

eurosport said when the roof closed it would open at 4pm..atp site has moved it onto 5pm...expect start of play to be put back further but its the sensible choice (at last).

 

[GameSetAndMath]

^^yes you can 'over-hydrate'..in fact believe it or not..if you drink too much water too fast you can have a risk of death,,its got an actual name but I cannot remember what..

eurosport said when the roof closed it would open at 4pm..atp site has moved it onto 5pm...expect start of play to be put back further but its the sensible choice (at last).

You are right JLLB. Now that you mentioned, I too remember that one can die just by
drinking too much water too fast (it is somewhat similar to alcohol poisoning when
a person can die by consuming too many alcoholic drinks too fast). It does have
a name and I too don't remember that.

 

[Moxie]

The important thing to remember for us 'week-end warriors' is that we're unlikely to ever be in danger of over-hydrating. Dehydration is the much more real danger, so don't fall for this hysterical talk. Stay hydrated, my friends.

 

[Iona16]

Tennis medic defends heat policy

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/25755065

The chief medical officer at the Australian Open has defended criticism of the tournament's "extreme heat policy" after Britain's Jamie Murray was treated for heatstroke.

Play was suspended on uncovered courts for more than four hours on Thursday as temperatures breached 40C for a third consecutive day, but Dr Tim Wood insisted the health of players was not being compromised.

"We evolved on the high plains of Africa chasing antelope for eight hours under these conditions," he said.

"There will be some players who complain and no-one is saying it is terribly comfortable to play out there, but, from a medical perspective, we know that man is well adapted to exercising in the heat. Whether it is humane or not is a whole other issue."

 

[Moxie]

^I saw this quote earlier, Iona. "Whether or not it is humane" seems to be the germane part of this quote. Since he's a medical professional, not an anthropologist, I should think he'd be concerned about that. Ridiculously reaching for justification!

 

[tented]

Tennis medic defends heat policy

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/25755065

The chief medical officer at the Australian Open has defended criticism of the tournament's "extreme heat policy" after Britain's Jamie Murray was treated for heatstroke.

Play was suspended on uncovered courts for more than four hours on Thursday as temperatures breached 40C for a third consecutive day, but Dr Tim Wood insisted the health of players was not being compromised.

"We evolved on the high plains of Africa chasing antelope for eight hours under these conditions," he said.

"There will be some players who complain and no-one is saying it is terribly comfortable to play out there, but, from a medical perspective, we know that man is well adapted to exercising in the heat. Whether it is humane or not is a whole other issue."

Correction:

"... but Dr. Tim Wood, resident shill, insisted the health ..."