Always a feature of the final Tuesday at the Australian Open, this year the heat bumped the All Abilities festivities to the next day.
Matches had started early on Tuesday in an attempt to get some completed.
As the temperature headed to 45°C, play was suspended for hours on the outdoor courts and spectators headed inside for the air conditioning and an Aperol Spritz.
So, Wednesday substituted as All Abilities Day.
A mixed Ability, mixed gender, mixed singles/doubles/triples etc session on a show court launched the day.
On the other outside courts, the first round of the women’s doubles wheelchair tournament saw No. 2 seeds Yui Kamiji (Japan) / Zhu Zhenzhen (China) defeat Dutch pair Jinte Bos / Lizzy de Greef, 6-1, 6-0.
The qualifying event for men’s singles wheelchair tournament was also taking place. Daniel Rodrigues (Brazil) defeated Daisuke Arai (Japan) in a skillful and hard fought match, 6-4, 6-3, to get into the main draw.
Title photo of Daniel Rodrigues by Vanessa Taylor
Update
Yui Kamiji / Zhu Zhenzhen reached the final of their event but lost to Chinese pair Li Xiaohui and Wang Ziying, 4-6, 3-6.
In September Kamiji / Zhenzhen turned the tables on Li / Wang to win the US Open, 6–1, 6–2.
Daniel Rodrigues lost in the first round of the main draw to former world No. 1, Stéphane Houdet of France. Rodrigues played a competitive match, 5-7, 6-4, 5-7.