Australian Open is a major tennis tournament held annually in Melbourne from 1905. It is chronologically the first of the four Grand Slam tennis events of the year. Australian Open famous for its extreme heat and very high attendance - in photo gallery by TASS.
Australian Open: looking forward to sports and temperature records
2016 Australian Open tennis tournament runs from 18 to 31 January
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Australian Open tournament is famous for its extreme heat as it is summer in Australia from December 1 to the end of February. Photo: Thermometer showing the on court temperature at approximately 116 degrees Fahrenheit (46.7 degree Celsius) during the first round match between Russia's Maria Sharapova and France's Camille Pin at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, 2007
© AP Photo/Rick Stevens Frank Dancevic of Canada lying on the court after collapsing during his first round match against Benoit Paire of France as temperatures topped at 43 C (108 F) at the Australian Open tennis championship in 2014
© AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi The organizers install special fans to cool the athletes and spectators. Photo: Poland's Jerry Janowicz is sprayed with cool water at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, 2014
© AP Photo/Tennis Australia,Fiona Hamilton In 1998 the Australian Open organizers implemented the Extreme Heat Policy. The temperature threshold was increased to 40°C (104°F). Photo: Spectator applies sun cream while others eat ice cream as they try to keep cool in the scorching heat on Rod Laver Arena at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, 2009
© AP Photo/Rick Stevens, File Photo: The roof on Rod Laver Arena closes due to high temperatures during the Women's singles quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in 2009
© AP Photo/Mark Baker Maria Sharapova of Russia pouring water over her head during a break in her second round match against Karin Knapp of Italy at the Australian Open tennis championship in 2014
© AP Photo/Aaron Favila Roy Emerson is an Australian former number one tennis player who won Australian Open 6 times, in 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967. Photo: Australia's veteran tennis star Roy Emerson, 1969
© AP Photo Australia's Margaret Court won a record 24 of Grand Slam titles, among which 11 were Australian Open. Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne was named after her. Photo: Margaret Court, 1973
© AP Photo/John Rooney Margaret Court Arena after rain stopped play at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, 2014
© AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko Jim Courier of USA diving in the Yarra River, after defeating Sweden's Stefan Edberg in the men's final at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in 1993
© AP Photo/Steve Holland Despite the heat Australian Open matches are very popular and are visited by about 600 thousand people. Photo: Spectators at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne
© AP Photo/Rob Griffith Record for the last 10 years was set in 2012, when 686006 spectators watched the matches. Photo: Spain's Rafael Nadal signs autographs for fans after his win against Russia's Mikhail Youzhny in their first round match at Rod Laver Arena during the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, 2015
© EPA/JOE CASTRO