'Feet on fire' on sun-scorched Aussie courts

Caroline Garcia said her feet were on fire and Dominic Thiem couldn't wait to get in an ice bath as Melbourne's searing summer heat took its toll at the Australian Open on Thursday.

The opening Grand Slam of the year routinely challenges players and fans with its fickle weather - it can be 20 C one day and 40 C the next.

This week the heat has been gradually building and it touched 40 C (104 F), with even worse forecast for Friday.