The Australian Open 2025 got off to a stormy start—literally. While Melbourne is no stranger to unpredictable weather, the heavy downpour turned streets into rivers, dropping 20mm of rain in just 30 minutes. Torrential rain and lightning brought play on the outer courts to a halt around noon, leaving players, officials, and fans scrambling to adjust.

The rain began mid-morning and intensified, forcing play on all outdoor courts to stop. Spectators dashed for cover, while tournament officials worked hard to adjust schedules. By early afternoon, five singles matches were canceled altogether, and the forecast predicted thunderstorms well into the evening.

Though rain interrupted the day, some matches managed to press on indoors under closed roofs. Fans lucky enough to have tickets to Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, or John Cain Arena witnessed uninterrupted play. For those huddled outside, updates from organizers kept the hope alive that matches might resume, though they were ultimately suspended until 6 p.m.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Angus Hines said it was like a whole day’s worth of rain in a short period.

Hitting that amount of rain in 24 hours perhaps not so unusual – but hitting that amount of rain in half an hour with a storm overhead doesn’t happen in Melbourne all that often. He provided some perspective and said “

The severe weather not only affected match schedules but also caused technical issues for spectators. A virtual queue system malfunction left fans stranded outside John Cain Arena, unable to secure seats due to the QR code-related fault. The situation was exacerbated by the heavy rain, leading to long lines and frustration among attendees.

Looking ahead, the weather forecast suggests continued challenges, with showers expected to persist into the evening. Organizers are prepared to utilize the extra day added to the tournament schedule to accommodate any further delays. Players and fans alike remain hopeful for clearer skies in the coming days.

Matches that were completed despite the thunderstorm at the Australian Open

In the midst of the chaos, some matches reached completion. On Rod Laver Arena, Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen overcame Anca Todoni 7-6(3), 6-1. The match paused briefly to close the roof but resumed without further interruption. 

The men’s draw featured two five-set thrillers. Kei Nishikori, the 2014 U.S. Open runner-up, saved two match points in the third set to defeat Thiago Monteiro 4-6, 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-3, 6-3. Sixth seed Casper Ruud, a three-time Grand Slam finalist, battled past Jaume Munar with a 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 victory.

French 20th seed Arthur Fils secured a four-set win against Otto Virtanen, finishing 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-4. In the women’s draw, Donna Vekic advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Diane Parry, and 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva defeated Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 6-3, becoming the first winner of the tournament.

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Melbourne’s skies, hoping for a break in the weather to allow the world’s best tennis players to showcase their talents without further interruption.

Everyone is now hoping for sunny skies and thrilling matches.