The bushfires sweeping across Australia are affecting air quality and visibility in Melbourne, which hosts the Australian Open later this month. Qualifying matches for the first Grand Slam of the year start on January 14, with the main draw kicking off on January 20. Tennis Australia, organizers of the tournament, is prepared to suspend matches or move them indoors if air quality continues to deteriorate.
Played at the height of summer Down Under, the Australian Open boasts the hottest temperatures of any of tennis’ four majors under normal conditions. So, as the best tennis players in the world head to Melbourne for a grueling test of their form and fitness, NikeCourt’s latest collection is ready to deliver critical cooling while resisting the cling created by excess moisture in less than ideal conditions.
NikeCourt team players at the tournament, including Grigor Dimitrov, Denis Shapovalov and Nick Kyrgios, will sport exclusive patterns created by Australian artist Cassie Byrnes, who finds inspiration in the tropical beauty of North Queensland, translating the unique landscape into watercolors created using pigment inks and gouache. “I start with a considered palette and story,” she says. “Then I play with mark-making, texture and composition to capture the essence and spirit of the theme.”
Shop the NikeCourt Melbourne collection now at nike.com.
