French Open delayed 1 week

For the second year in a row, the traditional

French Open schedule is being disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The clay-court Grand Slam tennis tournament said Thursday it will push back the start of this season’s event by one week because of surging virus cases in France.

“This postponement will give us a little more time to improve the health situation and should allow us to optimize our chances of welcoming spectators at Roland Garros,” said Gilles Moretton, the president of the French tennis federation.

“Whether for the fans, the players or the atmosphere, crowd presence is essential to the tournament, the first international sporting event of the spring.”

The French Open was scheduled to start on May 23, but first-round matches will now get underway on May 30.

Elsewhere: Topranked Ashleigh Barty easily won her first claycourt match in two years, cruising past Japan’s Misaki Doi 6-2, 6-1 in the WTA’s Volvo Car Open. Barty, fresh off a championship run at the Miami Open the past two weeks, had little trouble moving from hard courts to clay.

ETC.

Soccer: Arsenal conceded in injury time to draw 1-1 with Slavia Prague in the first leg of their Europa League quarterfinal, while Manchester United won 2-0 in Granada. Bruno Fernandes’ last-minute penalty put United in a commanding position to reach the semifinals after Marcus Rashford had given the visitors the lead in Spain. ... Lyon wasted a two-goal lead and needed penalty kicks to see off spirited Red Star 5-4 and reach the French Cup quarterfinals. Lyon’s deputy goalkeeper Julian Pollersbeck made the only save in the shootout.