French Open faces scheduling crisis after second weather setback
PARIS – Organizers submitted to the tyranny of rain for a second straight day at the French Open on Tuesday, with the clay-court major now seriously behind with a handful of fourth-round matches still to complete.
Quarterfinals between Andy Murray and Richard Gasquet in addition to Stan Wawrinka’s match against Albert Ramos-Vinolas were postponed until Wednesday.
Two hours of total play was possible on the day, with Novak Djokovic fighting back against Robert Bautista Agut for a 3-6, 6-4, 4-1 lead.
Play was split into two parts, with Bautista Agut winning the opening set in 37 minutes before an interruption and Djokovic recovering in the second session.
The weather situation followed Monday’s total washout at Roland Garros, first day without a ball being struck since May 30, 2000. Refunds to ticketholders were said to amount to around $2.23 million dollars.
Some brief relief looks to be arriving, with current forecasts showing a dry, cloudy Wednesday, though following days include more rain.
Djokovic is on a mission to win the Paris title for the first time in his career – it’s the only major missing from his sparkling portfolio.
The ultra-heavy conditions suited Bautista Agut down to the ground, with the Spaniard showing his intentions with an opening point lasting for 30 strokes.
On Court Two, Dominic Thiem lost an early lead to Marcelo Granollers, another grinder, 6-2, 6-7 (2-7). That pair was sent off for a second time because of the weather.
Granollers has led a charmed life at this edition, playing his last full match a week ago in the second round. He won an uncompleted third-round affair after opponent Nicolas Mahut retired injured and then got a walkover as Rafael Nadal pulled out injured from the tournament.
The 13th-seeded Thiem is bidding to become the first Austrian man to reach the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam since Jurgen Melzer at Roland Garros 2010.
Spain’s David Ferrer held a 2-1 early lead over seventh seed Tomas Berdych 2-1 while Ernests Gulbis paced David Goffin, 3-0.
In the women’s fourth round, irate second seed Agnieszaka Radwanska was dumped out 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 by Tatiana Pironkova while 2010 finalist Samantha Stosur advanced to the quarterfinals over sixth seed Simona Halep 7-6 (7-0), 6-3.
Radwanska was annoyed at being forced to take to the clay on the miserable day: “I’m just so surprised and angry that we have to play in the rain. It’s not a 10,000 (dollar) tournament. It’s a Grand Slam.
”How can you allow players to play in the rain? I cannot play in those conditions. I don’t know who allows us to play in that kind of conditions – I’m just pissed.“