( CNN ) -- With plastic bottles melting on court and players vomiting during matches , the heat is on in at the Australian Open , though organizers have cut the women some slack . As temperatures soared , China 's Peng Shuai blamed the conditions after she cramped up and was sick during her defeat to Kurumi Nara of Japan . At one point temperatures at Melbourne Park rose to 42.2 Celsius ( 108 Fahrenheit ) , with world No . 2 Victoria Azarenka describing playing on the Rod Laver Arena court as like `` dancing in a frying pan . '' It got so hot , organizers introduced the tournament 's `` extreme heat '' contingency plan which allows for an extended break between the second and third set for the women . The decision on whether or not to suspend play lies with tournament director Wayne McKewen , who uses a scale which factors in temperature , humidity and wind . `` We have to reach a minimum threshold and have a forecast that it will be sustained for a reasonable time , '' McKewen said in a statement . `` That did n't happen . While conditions were hot and uncomfortable , the relatively low level of humidity ensured play would continue . '' Despite searing heat , double defending champion Azarenka kept her cool , surviving a tough first set before going on to beat Swedish world No . 91 Johnanna Larsson 7-6 ( 7-2 ) 6-2 . The Belorussian would have liked organizers to close the roof on Melbourne Park 's showpiece court to protect the players , with the blazing sun making conditions hot under foot . `` When I went out on the court I was just curious what the temperature was , '' the 24-year-old , who will play Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the second round , told reporters . `` Because even though it was windy , the wind was hot . You normally expect some freshness ... but it just did n't come , from anywhere . '' Also playing in marginally favorable conditions earlier in the day , former world No . 1 Caroline Wozniacki made light work of Lourdes Dominguez Lino . Tenth seed Wozniacki , who recently announced her engagement to golfer Rory McIlroy , needed just 67 minutes to wrap up a 6-0 6-2 win over the Spaniard , although the searing heat did take its toll on her drinks bottle . `` The first set I thought I managed to keep my head cool , '' said the Dane , who advanced to a meeting with American Christina McHale . `` Every time in the changeovers , ice bags , ice towels , everything ; and then in the second set I could feel they were starting to heat up even more . `` I put the bottle down on the court and it started melting a little bit underneath , the plastic , so you knew it was warm . `` But it was warm for both of us , and it was great that I managed to finish it off in two sets and it was n't too long . '' Maria Sharapova took to the court for the final match of day two , the third seed 's 6-3 6-4 victory over American Bethanie Mattek-Sands secured in cooler temperatures once the sun had set . But fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska was made to sweat for her place in the second round . The Pole , a quarterfinalist at Melbourne Park in each of the last three years , cruised through the first set before overcoming a fight back from Kazakhstan 's Yulia Putintseva to win 6-0 5-7 6-2 . There were no such problems for world No . 8 Jelena Jankovic , with the Serb cruising to a 6-1 6-2 victory against Japan 's Misaki Doi .
Temperatures rose to 107.96 degrees Fahrenheit at the Australian Open . Defending champion Victoria Duval says playing on court is like ` ` dancing in a frying pan '' . Wozniacki claims her drinks bottle melted while she was playing . China 's Peng Shuai suffered cramps and vomited during her match .