Dancevic, currently ranked 122 in the world, required medical attention after fainting during the second set of his 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 loss to the Frenchman.

"I think it's inhumane, I don't think it's fair to anybody, to the players, to the fans, to the sport, when you see players pulling out of matches, passing out," he said.

"I've played five set matches all my life and being out there for a set and a half and passing out with heat stroke, it's not normal.

"Having players with so many problems and complaining to the tournament that it's too hot to play, until somebody dies, they're just keep going on with it and putting matches on in this heat.

"I personally don't think it's fair and I know a lot of players don't think it's fair."

Canada's Frank Dancevic called conditions at the Australian Open"inhumane" after he collapsed during a first-round defeat to Benoit Paire ©Getty Images



Britain's Andy Murray joined the Canadian in criticising the tournament's organisers, believing the incidents reflected badly on the sport.

"As much as it's easy to say the conditions are safe you know, a few people said there's doctors and stuff saying its fine it only takes one bad thing to happen," said the fourth-seed following his straights sets victory over Japan's Go Soeda.

"And it looks terrible for the whole sport when people are collapsing, ball kids are collapsing, people in the stands are collapsing.

"That's obviously not great.

"Whether it's safe or not, I don't know.

"You just got to be very careful these days.

"In this heat, that's when you're really pushing it to your limits.

"You don't want to see anything bad happen to anyone"

A number of other players also criticised the decision to continue play with defending women's champion Victoria Azarenka describing the conditions as "like you're dancing in a frying pan or something like that."

Caroline Wozniacki said her water bottle had melted on court due to the searing temperatures in Melbourne ©Getty Images



Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki told a post-game press conference that part of her water bottle had melted on court during her first round victory over Spain's Lourdes Dominguez whilst China's Peng Shuai said the heat caused her to cramp and vomit, and had to be helped from court after losing to Kurumi Nara.

A ball boy required medical attention after collapsing during Milos Raonic's 7-6, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Daniel Gimeno-Traver on court eight forcing organisers to reduce the rotations between ball boys to 45 minutes.

Serbia's Jelena Jankovic burned her backside and hamstrings on an uncovered seat during her victory over Japan's Misaki Doi, leaving the former number one to call for play to be suspended when temperatures reach a certain level.

"For the health of the players they should have a temperature where you don't play," she said.

"It doesn't matter how good a player you are sometimes your body can't cope with this.

"It's not easy and you can't enjoy playing when you are ready to explode and are red in the face."

Peng Shuai said the heat caused her to cramp and vomit, and had to be helped from court after losing to Kurumi Nara ©Getty Images



The tournament's "extreme heat" measures were put into force for women during the day allowing competitors an extra 10 minute break between the second and third sets.

However, under new rules, the decision to stop a match altogether is now down to tournament director Wayne McKen.

"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, following the wide criticisms.

"That didn't happen.

"While conditions were hot and uncomfortable, the relatively low level of humidity ensured play would continue."

The decision by McKewen was based on the Wet Bulb Global Temperature composite used by organisers of the Australian Open which also gauges humidity and wind, rather than the temperature alone when assessing extreme heat conditions.

Although a host of players have openly criticised organisers for allowing play to continue during the soaring heat, others have followed Roger Federer's line that, although conditions are tough, they are the same for both players.

"It's just a mental thing," he said.

"If you've trained hard enough your entire life or the last few weeks and you believe you can do it and come through it, there's no reason.

"If you can't deal with it, you throw in the towel."

His sentiment was echoed by the tournament's chief medical officer, Tim Wood.

"The majority of matches today were completed without any court calls from the medical team," he said.

"Of course there were a few players who experienced heat related illness or discomfort, but none required significant medical intervention after they had completed their match.

"Most of the matches today didn't go for much longer than a couple of hours and generally the playing group coped extremely well."

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