Playing and winning? Sometimes it’s too hot to be standing on court during Australian Open
Canada's Marina Stakusic had to retire from her match and leave on a wheelchair, a day after a ballgirl fainted due to heat
Marina Stakusic, center, of Canada is taken from the court in a wheelchair after retiring in her first round match against Priscilla Hon, right, of Australia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (Joel Carrett/AAP Image via AP) Imagine coming to the court on two feet and having to leave on a wheelchair? Tennis players are considered among the fittest athletes in the world, but the Australian Open heat gets to the best of them.
Canadian qualifier Marina Stakusic would have fancied her chances of advancing in the women’s singles draw of the first Grand Slam tournament of the season when she was pitted against local wildcard Priscilla Hon in Monday’s first round. The feeling would have been strengthened when she pocketed the first set 6-1. But it all ended in pain for Marina, physically and metaphorically.
The Canadian began to struggle as the match progressed and failed to even see it through as she exited 1-6, 6-4, 5-3 with her opponent serving for a spot in the next round. Marina couldn’t get off the court on her own as she had to be helped by Priscilla onto a wheelchair.
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