Aussie Open draws criticism over play in smoky conditions

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley defended the decision to hold qualifying matches this week even though Melbourne’s air quality was among the worst in the world because of smoke from wildfires devastating parts of the country.

The tournament has drawn criticism from players for contesting matches in conditions that led one, Dalila Jakupovic, to collapse to her knees while coughing heavily, and another, Bernard Tomic, to seek medical attention because of trouble breathing.

Tiley said Thursday the conditions were under a threshold set after Australian Open organizers consulted with sports and medical experts, and scientists from the Environmental Protection Authority.

“Our medical team was satisfied with the conditions that the players were competing in, per all of the research and the data and the science that they have,”Tiley said.

He said matches would have been stopped if medical staff at Melbourne Park decided it was too unhealthy to keep playing.

“Absolutely, we understand the anger, (but) a lot of it comes from the confusion and the complexity of understanding what goes on,” Tiley said.

“If anyone at any time is feeling not well, we have a full medical team. We have a respiratory specialist on hand to deal with any of these issues.”

Qualifying matches were delayed for an hour Tuesday and two hours Wednesday until smoke and haze from the regional wildfires cleared. Rain late Wednesday improved the air quality in Melbourne.