As minor changes to the Australian Open's contentious extreme heat policy are set to be implemented for the '15 tournament, "a major revamp of Tennis Australia's player development department under new director of performance Patrick Rafter is also well underway," according to Linda Pearce of THE AGE. There "was no official comment on the extent of the restructure under Rafter, the Davis Cup captain who was a surprise appointment to the key full-time position last month." But, amid predictions of another summer of above-average temperatures, "it is also believed that there will be adjustments to a heat policy that was widely debated during a scorching week last January." The addition of a third stadium -- Margaret Court Arena -- with a retractable roof "is regarded as one of the catalysts for Tennis Australia's determination to provide conditions that are as fair and consistent as possible across both the protected showcourts and outside." A key difference "will apparently involve the way the policy is communicated, although the trigger point for the suspension of play at the end of in-progress sets on uncovered courts and roof closures on Rod Laver, Hisense and Margaret Court Arenas will remain at the discretion of the tournament referee, Wayne McKewan" (THE AGE, 12/1).
