Halep reportedly taken to hospital after Aus Open final

Simona Halep reportedly spent four hours in hospital suffering from dehydration after her gut-wrenching defeat in the Australian Open final.

The number one seed went down to Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-4 in a thrilling women's decider on Saturday night on Rod Laver Arena.

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The Romanian was apparently treated for dehydration before being released on Sunday morning.

ESPN released a photo said to be of Halep in her hospital bed with a drip attached to her arm after the final.

Halep was reportedly hospitalised for dehydration. Pic: ESPN

Scorching temperatures proceeded the men's final where organisers decided to close the roof on Rod Laver Arena on Sunday evening.

Tournament directors enacted the extreme heat policy prior to the 7:30pm final, with the temperature above 37 degrees within a half-hour of the first serve.

Previously in the tournament, the policy has only kicked in when the mercury hits 40 degrees with an additional wet bulb temperature threshold, relating to humidity levels.

Halep may not have won the Australian Open, but she won the hearts of fans with an incredibly classy runner-up speech.

The lion-hearted Romanian put up an incredible fight but was unable to deny Wozniacki her first major title.

"Of course I'm sad I couldn't win today but Caroline was better than me," a classy Halep said in the post-match presentation.

"For sure, I will fight and I have many years to go. Hopefully I will face another challenge like today.

The final clearly took its toll on Halep. Pic: Getty

"Maybe the fourth time will be with luck."

Hampered by an ankle injury throughout the tournament, Halep entered the final having spent 11 hours and 30 minutes on court - 40 minutes more than Roger Federer had put in on his way to Sunday night's men's final.

By the time Wozniacki sealed victory to leapfrog Halep and become world No.1 for the first time in six years, Halep had added another two hours and 49 minutes to her tally.

Wozniacki and Halep were all class. Image: Getty

At some point, the enormous physical effort - which included a marathon three-hour and 44-minute victory over Lauren Davis in the third round - had to take its toll.

That moment appeared to have arrived early in the second set when an exhausted Halep called for the tournament physio and had her pulse and blood pressure checked.

Commentating for ESPN, tennis great Chris Evert said Halep's coach, Australian Darren Cahill, had expressed concerns about her fitness during a hallway chat earlier that day.

"He said 'she's really excited ... but the tank is getting lower and lower with each match'," Evert said.

"I'm amazed at how well she's holding up with all the matches that she's played.

"It's an accumulation of two weeks of long, tough matches for both these ladies."

With agencies