Tennis: Australian Open Wheelchair Players Burnt And Blistered
February 1st 2009 14:14
Australian Open wheelchair stars are battling hand burns and blisters from red-hot metal rims and rubber tyres.
With temperatures topping 43C for a third consecutive day, disabled players have been going through the motions on outdoor courts until play is halted.
Australia's former world No.1 Daniela Di Toro said her skin scorched on almost molten metal.
"It's full-on," she told the Herald Sun of the conditions, saying some wheelchair tyres burst or ruptured in the heat.
She added that her fingers could rest on the wheelchair's aluminium rim for only a fraction of a second. Even the tyres are too hot to handle more than momentarily.
"You've got the direct heat overhead as well as radiant heat all around you that has been absorbed by the court and your chair, and it really is extremely full-on."
Melbourne is in the grip of its worst heatwave in a century, with the scorching temperatures causing train tracks to buckle and power grids to crash.
Agence France-Presse
With temperatures topping 43C for a third consecutive day, disabled players have been going through the motions on outdoor courts until play is halted.
Australia's former world No.1 Daniela Di Toro said her skin scorched on almost molten metal.
"It's full-on," she told the Herald Sun of the conditions, saying some wheelchair tyres burst or ruptured in the heat.
She added that her fingers could rest on the wheelchair's aluminium rim for only a fraction of a second. Even the tyres are too hot to handle more than momentarily.
Daniela Di Toro
"You've got the direct heat overhead as well as radiant heat all around you that has been absorbed by the court and your chair, and it really is extremely full-on."
Melbourne is in the grip of its worst heatwave in a century, with the scorching temperatures causing train tracks to buckle and power grids to crash.
Agence France-Presse
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