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Melbourne Park has turned into one giant swimming pool and organisers are saying there won’t be play before 2pm.
A look at the weather radar suggests we may be waiting even longer, as while rain has momentarily paused, further bands are projected to keep hitting the city well into the afternoon.
Rain caused chaos on day one of the Australian Open.Credit: Eddie Jim
The weather bureau has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for areas including central Melbourne.
The bureau is urging people to brace for heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding, damaging winds and large hailstorms over the next several hours.
The rain left people running for cover.Credit: Eddie Jim
Two of our reporters came running into the media centre completely saturated. Sadly for them, a change of clothes was not on the packing list today.
Needless to say, this is far from ideal as it completely throws the schedule from the outset of the competition.
We’re chasing tournament organisers for an update on where to from here.
We’ve spotted something new and curious at the gates of Melbourne Park.
The express entry poster.Credit: Gemma Grant
Fans have the option of express entry – if they submit a selfie to a facial recognition queue.
Patrons can submit a selfie, that is then linked to their Ticketek account, to access the alternate entrance. It is only open to people aged over 15 years.
Australian Open staff have confirmed that the express queue is free, and can be accessed via a QR code on posters placed next to it.
As far as I can see, the “express line” is still pretty long.
Over on John Cain Arena, 14th seed Mirra Andreeva has taken the first set and the match is on serve in the second as she takes on Marie Bouzkova.
Andreeva made a deep run in Melbourne last year and despite being only 17, was the only women’s player to defeat current world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka at a major last year when she knocked off the defending Australian Open champion in the Roland Garros quarters.
Mirra Andreeva in action.Credit: Eddie Jim
“I feel like I’m ready to be in top 10. I feel like I’m ready to be in top five,” said Andreeva on the eve of the Australian Open where her ranking is at a career high of No.15.
“It’s just a matter of time, and I’m very curious and excited to see if I can reach this goal this year. But even if it doesn’t happen this year, I have 20 more years to do so.
“I just feel that I’m ready tennis-wise and mental-wise as well … it’s just a matter of time until it happens.”
We have our first break of serve on Rod Laver Arena, with Zheng Qinwen managing to take a 4-3 lead over Romania’s Anca Todoni.
Todoni had actually done a good job of holding serve until that point, and was pushing Zheng around the court, but the world No.5 uses her experience to clinch the break at a crucial point in the first set.
Zheng Qinwen in action on Rod Laver Arena.Credit: AP
Zheng gets through her next service game with ease, and takes a 5-3 lead. She should close out the set from here, but I wouldn’t underestimate Todoni.
For a young and inexperienced player, she certainly has taken it to Zheng and has a powerful forehand that, although not always as accurate as she would like, is troubling Zheng at times.
What started as a light drizzle is now pelting down. There are big rolls of thunder. A few lightning flashes, too.
Ponchos and umbrellas are everywhere. Play has been suspended on the outdoor courts, but I’ve spotted a few still practising.
People are sheltering wherever they can – including me. Tournament organisers mustn’t be too happy with this.
Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley said Nick Kyrgios “lit up” when he heard he would return to the Australian Open on his favourite John Cain Arena on Monday night.
Kyrgios, who has battled injury but trained well on Sunday, has long drawn boisterous, capacity crowds to JCA which was dubbed “Kyrgios Arena” by some in past years.
Nick Kyrgios and Jordan Thompson of Australia laugh during a practice session on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
Not only does the venue draw fans from the outside courts, it also is a basketball stadium for much of the NBL season which appeals to Kyrgios, an avid NBA fan and part-owner of the NBL’s South East Melbourne Phoenix.
The Australian star will play Great Britain’s Jacob Fearnley on Monday night.
Tiley revealed Kyrgios was excited about playing on his favourite court.
“Nick’s face lit up when he found out he is on John Cain Arena and we put him in the evening as well,” Tiley said on Sunday.
“Nick playing on John Cain Arena, it will be an absolute blockbuster, he’s excited about it and there is massive anticipation from the fans who haven’t seen him play for a while as well.”
Slight delay to our start on Rod Laver Arena.
As predicted, the roof is closed. No rain yet, but seems like more of a preventative measure so they don’t have to pause the match mid-way through.
The roof closes at the women’s singles first round match between Anca Todoni of Romania and Qinwen Zheng of China.Credit: Getty Images
They’re predicting up to 10ml of rain in Melbourne today.
Romania’s Anca Todoni gets through her first service game comfortably.
A double fault is the only indication of some early nerves from Todoni, but otherwise, a confident start for the 20-year-old.
Meanwhile, there are big cheers for Qinwen Zheng from Chinese fans in the crowd.
The 2024 finalist is wearing a compression sleeve on her right arm, but so far there are no signs of any struggle through her first service game.
Large crowds atMelbourne Park on the first day of the Australian Open could soon be scrambling for cover as a thunderstorms head towards Melbourne from Victoria’s west.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s radar showed heavy rain moving east towards the city shortly after 11.30am.
Melbourne BoM radar around 11.30am on Sunday.Credit: Bureau of Meteorology
WeatherZone’s radar shows dozens of lightning strikes around Geelong as an intense storm cell passes over the regional city.
Despite the looming clouds, the weather bureau has not issued any thunderstorm warnings.
Spectators were left looking for cover when the rain hit Melbourne Park.Credit: Eddie Jim
However, it had forecast showers and a possible storm in Melbourne on Sunday.
Specifically, it had predicted: “The chance of a thunderstorm, possibly severe, with damaging winds, large hail and heavy falls about the nearby hills in the afternoon and evening.”
The queues are growing at Melbourne Park, where there’s a long wait to get to matches on the first day of the Australian Open.
All patrons are being directed to wait in line outside – even those with arena tickets.
Staff are doing well directing people. There must be more than 20 people wearing high-vis Ralph Lauren polos.
One staff member is especially joyful, keeping crowds entertained on a megaphone, and welcoming them to the “happy slam”.
Once you get inside, you’re not in the clear quite yet.
There are more queues to get into the outside courts, and even to get a morning coffee.
It’s a far cry from last week’s qualifying rounds, when there was nary a queue in sight.
I must say, I’m grateful for my media accreditation right now.
At least three staff have spotted it and directed me to the wait-free staff entrance.
Over to Rod Laver Arena now, where 2024 finalist Qinwen Zheng has the honour of opening the court for the tournament against qualifier Anca Todoni of Romania.
Zheng lost 6-3, 6-2 to a clinical Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s final, but the Chinese world No.5 has had a string of success since then, including winning Olympic gold in Paris last year.
It’s a tough match for world No. 110 Todoni, who is very green at a grand slam level and is making her first appearance in an Australian Open main draw.
These two players have never met on court before, but Zheng is the heavy favourite to win, and should win, comfortably.
The roof is currently open on RLA, but the weather is looking a little ominous. I’m predicting a rain delay at some point in the match. Lucky they have a roof!
