
Tennis chiefs are facing calls to postpone the Australian Open after players suffered breathing problems in warm-up and qualifying matches because of smoke from the country's bushfires.

World number two Novak Djokovic says organisers will 'have to consider' rescheduling the Melbourne tournament, which is due to start on January 20.

The toxic haze has drifted from out-of-control bushfires which have been ravaging Australia for months, and pollution levels in Melbourne dropped to the 'worst in the world' overnight.

Russian star Maria Sharapova struggled in the smoke during an exhibition match, which was eventually called off, while Australian player Bernard Tomic needed medical treatment during a qualifying match yesterday.

Former semi-finalist Eugenie Bouchard also had problems on Tuesday and needed a medical time-out after complaining of a sore chest.

Organisers have so far resisted calls to postpone the tournament, with thundery conditions today expected to clear the air, but have come under increasing pressure from players who say the conditions are 'not healthy'.

Eugenie Bouchard was forced into taking a medical time-out during Australian Open qualifying due to the poor conditions caused by the smoke

Maria Sharapova saw her match on Tuesday abandoned due to health concerns over smoke inhalation having seen the former world No 1 become unwell in the smoky conditions

Pictured in action on Tuesday, Sharapova had to bring the match to an end. It is clear players have been struggling with the worsening conditions

A spectator wears a mask as smoke haze shrouds Melbourne during an Australian Open practice session at Melbourne Park in Australia, Tuesday, Jan

Bernard Tomic of Australia receives medical attention in his match against Denis Kudla of the USA during 2020 Australian Open Qualifying at Melbourne Park on January 14

The Dunns Road Fire crowns the tops of a trees close near Maragle, Australia on Friday, Jan. 10. The relentlessness of the blazes is increasingly pushing Australia beyond crisis mode into anger and fatigue

A general view is seen of smoke haze from bushfires at Melbourne Park, venue of the Australian Open practice sessions, in Melbourne today

Novak Djokovic (pictured above) has said that the tournament might have to be pulled completely in order to protect players

IMPACT OF THE SMOKE ON OTHER EVENTS November 12: The Australian leg of the World Rally Championship is axed over concerns around smoke from nearby bushfires December 19: A race meet at Tamworth was axed as organisers blame poor air quality from the New South Wales bushfires December 22: Canberra's smoke-filled air forces players off the ground in a Big Bash League match between Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers. The game is eventually abandoned. January 3: Events in Canberra continue to be impacted by the poor air quality from the fires as the city's air quality is ranked the worst in the world. Tennis Australia decides to move the Canberra International to Bendigo. A W-League football match between Canberra and Newcastle is also postponed, while a game between the Canberra Capitals and the Perth Lynx at the indoor AIS Arena is also scrapped due to air quality concerns. January 4: The Karkarook Parkrun, an annual event in Melbourne's south-east, is cancelled due to air quality concerns. Meanwhile, the Bridport triathlon in Tasmania is abandoned after smoke from nearby fires Advertisement

Qualifying rounds were suspended until lunchtime today with the air still smelling of smoke, before resuming at 1pm local time with conditions slightly better but still hazy.

Thundery weather then swept in late on Wednesday afternoon, bringing heavy rain that forced play to be cancelled for the day but raised expectations of clearer air for Thursday.

Air quality in Melbourne reached 'hazardous' levels for a time yesterday while Victoria state's chief health officer, Brett Sutton, said 'overnight for Melbourne it did reach the worst in the world.'

Melbourne Airport is operating with one runway as bushfire smoke continues to choke the city and horse races in the city have also been cancelled.

The worsening conditions are the result of bushfires which have ravaged much of Australia in the build-up to the tournament, with 27 people dead, more than 2,000 homes destroyed and millions of animals under threat.

Players reported that they had been feeling sick while training and the first matches on court on Wednesday were delayed by at least three hours because of the smoke.

The majority of Australian Open practice sessions are schedule for outdoor courts throughout the day, with just a handful being on indoor courts.

Organisers have long had policies in place to deal with rain and extreme heat, but air quality is a new problem.

Men's world No 2 Novak Djokovic, who sits on the ATP Player Council, has already voiced his concerns for player safety and has suggested the tournament should be cancelled if smoke levels remain 'hazardous'.

'If it comes down to those conditions affecting the health of players, I think we should definitely consider it,' Djokovic said on January 6, with what happened on Tuesday across multiple events unlikely to ease pressures on organisers.

Former semi-finalist Eugenie Bouchard left the court complaining of a sore chest during a qualifying match against China's You Xiaodi yesterday, which she eventually recovered to win.

Bouchard said she found it 'tough to breathe' during the second set and said she was 'definitely feeling unwell' because of the conditions.

'No cough, just heavy air, a bit tough to breathe and when you're out of breath after a long, tough point I felt I couldn't breathe well and that feeling made me a bit nauseous,' she said.

'Like the heat rule, there should be an air quality rule,' the Canadian told reporters, referring to rules which allow the roof to be closed in extreme conditions.

Slovenian player Dalila Jakupovic was forced to retire while leading in her qualifying match on Tuesday because of the smoke.

'I was really scared that I would collapse,' she said after suffering a coughing fit.

She added: 'Why do we need to wait for something bad to happen to do an action?'

Sharapova's exhibition match in Kooyong was impacted by smoke from the nearby bushfires. The sky can be tinted brown above the court

Frenchman Lucas Pouille, who is preparing to appear in the main draw, condemned organisers on social media for putting players in a dangerous position.

'I keep reading that it's dangerous to play, to read messages from players saying it's outrageous to play,' he said. 'I can't judge I'm not there. but my question is this. Why are you going on the court?'

Sharapova and her German opponent Laura Siegemund agreed to call an early halt to their match at the Kooyong Classic warm-up tournament after more than two hours because of the conditions.

'Over two hours play and I actually started to feel a cough coming on at the end of the second set,' Sharapova said after her match was abandoned.

'But I thought maybe because I have been feeling sick for the last couple of weeks it was something to do with that.

'Then, when I heard Laura (Siegmund) speak to the umpire about it saying she was struggling as well, I was like 'OK, thankfully I am not the only one'.

'The umpire came down and said to play one more game but we were out there for over two hours and I think for my health stand-point it was the right call from the officials.'

Sharapova (left), with Laura Siegemund (right), talking to officials before the game is called off. Players had previously complained of feeling unwell

Dalila Jakupovic was in tears on the floor after being unable to continue at the Australian Open on Tuesday after her match was cancelled

The Slovenian is helped from the court by medical staff and later said she felt 'scared' on court due to the poor conditions caused by the smoke

Players were told not to practice outside due to the fog that has descended over Melbourne, but the practice schedule is still running at full

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley has insisted that precautions are being taken and that smoke delays will be treated like rain or heat.

'Like when it is too hot or when raining, play will be suspended should the above measures deem that necessary,' Tiley said.

'We are also consulting closely with the WTA and the ATP and the decision we made this morning, both tours supported those and recommended those,' Tiley said.

'This is a new experience for all of us, how we manage air quality, and therefore we have got to rely on those experts that advise us how best to continue.'

The Environment Protection Authority in Victoria is working with a dedicated team on site to establish the air quality and whether it is safe to put players out on court.

The EPA use five categories ranging from good to hazardous to determine the air quality, with Melbourne reaching the worst level for several hours yesterday before improving today.

The Australian Open medical team and the Bureau of Meteorology are also conducting their own checks to determine the safety of play.

Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina criticised organisers by suggesting 'something bad' must happen for action is taken to protect players at the start of the 2020 season

Lucas Pouille was critical of a 'scandalous' decision to make players compete on Tuesday

Gilles Simon questioned the experts that were making the decision on the air quality

Government advice to citizens in Melbourne and surrounding areas is to 'minimise the time spent in smoky conditions whenever practical to do so,' and it goes further to suggest they 'avoid exercise'.

Tennis Australia was already forced to move a tournament in Canberra due to the damaging levels of smoke making the facility unusable for players and spectators.

A cricket match between Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers on December 22 was stopped and eventually abandoned due to smoke levels.

Formula One organisers are said to be closely monitoring the air quality in the coming days as fears grow over the the season opening race in Melbourne on March 15.

Non-sporting events including Day on the Green music festival in Victoria's north-east has been forced into cancellation at the last minute due to the hazardous air quality and pressure is building on the Australian Open to delay the start of the tournament.