Melbourne, Nov 13: Australian Open officials will strengthen their heat policy for next year's tournament to protect players and fans, open chief executive Paul Mcnamee announced today. The first grand slam tournament of next year will be played from January 13 to 26 in sweltering summer conditions in Melbourne and officials are making a third straight change to their methods of dealing with excessive heat at the open.

''In 2003, the commencement of further matches to be played outdoors will be suspended if the air temperature reaches 35 degrees (celsius) but only if in conjunction with a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) of 28 or above,'' open officials said in a statement. Both criteria must occur simultaneously and further matches would be scheduled as temperatures cooled below the threshold as time permitted, the statement said.

Matches on Rod Laver Arena and Vodafone Arena Courts, which have retractable roofs, would be played under closed-roof conditions until temperatures eased, officials said. ''The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature is a combination of ambient air temperature, humidity, intensity of solar radiation and wind speed which together affect the ability of an individual of an individual to lose heat whether exercising or sitting still,'' the statement said.

At this year's event, officials halted play when the temperature reached 38 degrees, a modification of the 40-degree rule used in 2001.

Mcnamee added: ''We have a responsibility to ensure we are looking after the best interests of everyone coming to the tournament, whether as players, spectators or our on-court officials, particularly ball-persons.” Bureau Report