Andy Murray has described it as like playing in a "sauna". Canadian Frank Dancevic fainted on the court during his first round match and branded the conditions "inhumane".
The heat is wreaking havoc at the Australian Open with temperatures reaching a roasting 43 degrees Celsius today with some players, including Lleyton Hewitt involved in grueling five-setters.
While the tournament has an extreme heat policy which has yet to be enforced this year, the conditions are raising plenty of concerns about players' health with Murray among the many players who have criticized the organizers for forcing them to play in the sweltering heat.
It's far from the first time that the Melbourne tournament has taken place amid such temperatures.
Former Ireland No 1 Conor Niland has experience of those desert like conditions in his locker and he shared it with us tonight.
"It's tough to function at 43 degrees in your daily life but to play at that intensity in such a big event is brutal," said Niland.
"They even had ball kids fainting, let alone the players. Apparently the forecast is for more of the same over the next few days. Dancevic used the word 'inhumane' today in his press conference and Murray after his match used the word 'dangerous'. 43 degrees is probably too much and they do have a full two weeks to get this thing finished. They do have night and evening matches in Australia so they could have started a little bit later. I'm sure it was a compromise some of the players would have liked to make."
A few years ago, Niland played at over 40 degrees.
"I've played in Greece in a Davis Cup match that was over 40 degrees. It was absolutely brutal and takes a few days to recover. So if somebody does go to five sets in this kind of weather, they're going to be struggling in a week's time when they're looking to contend for a title.
"You just got to try and get the ice going at the change of ends and buy a bit of time in between points. But the final set for that match was tough and not something anyone can really train for."
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic should be the favourite for the tournament because of the quicker court according to Niland, with Rafa Nadal at a disadvantage.
Roger Federer has also recruited ex-World No 1 Stefan Edberg for 10 weeks, starting with Australia and Niland believes it is a bid to shorten up points because of Edberg's serve and volley potency.
Niland also touched on dynamics and the implications of Boris Becker joining Djokovic's coaching team.
He also believes Juan Martin Del Potro will be in the mix for Grand Slam titles this year.
Main image: Conor Niland in 2011 ©INPHO/Getty Images
