On another sweltering day in Melbourne that saw the extreme heat policy enacted for the first time since 2009, No. 5 seed Juan Martin Del Potro became the first major seed to fall at the Australian Open in the tournament’s second round.
2014 Australian Open results: Juan Martin Del Potro falls
The No. 5 seed in the men’s singles bracket was upended on Thursday, while scorching heat forced several matches to be halted.
Scott Barbour
Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain twice came from a set down to pull off the upset of Del Potro, winning 4-6 6-3 5-7 6-4 7-5 over five sets. Del Potro’s loss marks his second consecutive early exit from a Grand Slam. He lost to Lleyton Hewitt in the second round of last year’s US Open.
Australian Open 2014
Temperatures rose to 107 degrees on the tournament’s fourth day, forcing officials to halt play at the outdoor venues and retract the roofs at the main arenas. The implementation of the policy comes a day after the decision to play through 108-degree temperatures on Wednesday drew heavy criticism from No. 4 seed Andy Murray.
Murray and the rest of the men’s singles top seeds fared just fine in the heat on Day 4. Murray dispatched Vincent Millot in straight sets while No. 1 Rafael Nadal cruised by Thansasi Kokkinakis. Roger Federer beat Blaz Kavcic three sets to none.
On the women’s side, three-seeded Maria Sharapova needed an extra set to get by Karin Knapp while No. 2 Victoria Azarenka made light work of Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.
Visit the tournament’s official site for complete results.
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