The Australian Open has had the first test of its air quality arrangements after practice was temporarily suspended on Tuesday morning.
The decision was made after smoke haze covered much of Melbourne during the morning.
Tuesday was set to be the first day of qualifying for the 2020 Australian Open.
But matches have now been pushed back an hour to allow the conditions to pass.
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In a statement released by Australian Open organisers on Tuesday morning, they emphasised the decision was focused on the welfare of players, staff and fans.
"Practice was temporarily suspended this morning due to poor air quality," the statement read.
"Qualifying matches will begin at 11am.
"Conditions onsite are improving and are being constantly monitored.
"Further decisions will be made using onsite data and in close consultation with our medical team, the Bureau of Meteorology and scientists from EPA Victoria.
"As always the health and safety of our players, our staff and our fans is our priority."
Just for people who think it isn’t that bad at Melbourne Park. pic.twitter.com/h8zYoP1WIJ
— Noah Rubin (@Noahrubin33) January 13, 2020
😢 #Melbourne pic.twitter.com/nviUv8PqhN
— Carole Bouchard (@carole_bouchard) January 13, 2020
The smoke haze has engulfed much of Melbourne, as social media users have shared.
The air quality levels in Melbourne have reached extremely hazardous levels and so it seems like an obvious decision from event organisers.
The Kooyong Classic also begins in Melbourne on Tuesday, with organisers there hopeful that the tournament will still proceed as planned from 1pm.
Play at @AustralianOpen qualifying officially back an hour to an 11am start with monitoring continuing. They are still hopeful of beginning @KooyongClassic at 1pm. But the races have already been called off at Werribee in the outskirts of Melbourne. https://t.co/jM1apUXtTg
— Courtney Walsh (@walshcee) January 13, 2020
More to come.
