Melbourne Hub: Melbourne melts! Finally play is suspended at Aussie Open as temperatures ...

PUBLISHED: 23:40 EST, 15 January 2014 | UPDATED: 02:01 EST, 16 January 2014

The local time was just approaching 2pm in the afternoon and the mercury had hit 42C on the way up to its expected high of 44 when the Australian Open finally took mercy on its beleaguered players.

For the first time during the current extraordinary weather the tournament’s full Extreme Heat Policy was implemented, meaning that matches on the main indoor courts – such as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga versus Brazilian Thomasz Bellucci on the Hisense Arena – would switch to becoming indoor contests.

For those on the outside courts it would mean that there would be an indefinite postponement, but only once the players had reached the end of the set.

Sizzling: A photographer sits next to a frying pan and cooks two eggs as temperatures rise at Melbourne Park (left), while a young tennis fan stands in a fountain as temperatures rise (right)

Treatment: America's Varvara Lepchenko requires medical attention during her second-round match

Cooling down: Maria Sharapova uses an ice pack at the changeover on the Rod Laver Arena

A lone supporter: A fan covers himself from the heat with a towel at Melbourne Park

In the stands: Comedian Jimmy Carr (centre) braves the heat to watch Sharapova in action

In Maria Sharapova’s case that meant sticking it out to complete a marathon three hour and 28 minute 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 win against Italian Karin Knapp, during which both players showed remarkable resilience in the furnace of Rod Laver Arena.

On whether they should have stopped playing, Sharapova said: 'It’s a tough call. I think the question I have is that no one really knows what the limit is, not the players or the WTA trainers, I asked the trainer and she said I have no control over this. I had to play and finish the match and do the best I can.

'It’s not the best conditions but I don’t want to complain. Even if I lost that wouldn’t be the reason because there’s someone on the other side of the net facing the same conditions.'

Caroline Wozniacki's second round match on the RLA versus American Christina McHale was switched to being played under the roof, and once closed it remains across for the duration of the match.

No new matches were being scheduled after 2pm and it was announced that there would be no resumption of play on outside courts until 6pm.

Feeling the heat: Eva Hrdinova and Paula Ormaechea look to be suffering during their doubles match

Tough day: Italy's Camila Giorgi (left) takes a drink and uses an ice pack during a break in her match, while Japan's Kei Nishikori (right) also takes advantage of the changeover

Splash: Garbine Mugurza throws cold water over herself during her match against Anna Schmiedlova

Darkness: The roof of the Rod Laver Arena is closed as the Extreme Heat Policy is implemented

Several players who featured in the early matches needed to call for medical attention, among them Carla Suarez Navarro and American Varvara Lepchenko.

Lepchenko said: 'I think they definitely should have just not started the matches in the first place. In the second set I couldn't focus on my returns, I couldn't see the ball.'

Ice vests were the order of the day during what was the most severe chapter of the heatwave that is expected to continue until the weekend.

Crowds are understandably down at Melbourne Park for the first four days, with the city expecting to suffer power cuts due to the demands on air conditioning.

Players have also been advised to slap on the sun cream with some taking unnecessary risks by wearing no protection against skin cancer.

Defending men's champion Novak Djokovic took to Twitter to spread the message, saying 'protect yourself people' but others, including world number one Rafael Nadal, have said they preferred not to use it at all.

Ghost town: Melbourne Park is empty as play is suspended on the outside courts due to the extreme heat

Relief: Spectators jump into a fountain to cool off as temperatures climb in the Queensland capital

Shelter: Tennis fans rest in the concourse of the indoor arenas to get out of the heat

Sea of blue: There is not a cloud in the sky as temperatures reach the early 40s in Melbourne

Scotland the brave: Andy Murray fans brave the heat to show their support ahead of his second-round match

'Players (don't like) that it doesn't feel great on your skin and also when you're sweating it drips in your eyes,' said Paul Annacone, the former coach of Roger Federer and Pete Sampras and now in charge of Sloane Stephens.

'There's more maintenance involved but overall the long-term benefit and what it does to protect you, it's a non-issue. You've just got to figure out how to do it.'

Former world number one Pat Rafter, now Australia's Davis Cup captain, said he knew plenty of players who still went out to play unprotected.

Fans a plenty: Spectators cool off in front of misting fans during the suspension of play

Protections: Tennis fans apply sun cream to protect themselves from burning under the hot Melbourne sun

Tight squeeze: Fans sit under the covers on the outside courts as Donald Young plays Andreas Seppi

'The Europeans come over here and get red noses and foreheads,' he said.

'I tell them, "mate you've got to wear a hat". They say: "oh, I'm OK" and I think, "s***".'

A spokesman for the ATP Tour said on Thursday that sun cream was readily available in the locker rooms and latex gloves were provided for players who did not want to get the cream on their hands.