Rain puts damper on plans
Washout creates scheduling mess
PARIS — The second full-day washout at the French Open since 2000 made a mess of the schedule Wednesday and raised the possibility that the Grand Slam tournament will not finish on time.
Tournament director Guy Forget said there is a chance that the women’s singles final could be delayed from Saturday to Sunday.
“It’s not what we hope,” Forget said, “but if we have no other choice, then that’s what we will do.”
Roland Garros is the only Grand Slam site without a covered court; a retractable roof is expected to be added to the main stadium before tournament next year at the facility in western Paris.
As things stand now, with the last two women’s quarterfinals — defending champion Simona Halep of Romania vs. 17-year-old Amanda Anisimova of the U.S., and No. 8 Ash Barty of Australia vs. No. 14 Madison Keys of the U.S. — moved from Wednesday to Thursday, whoever emerges from that half of the draw could end up playing on three consecutive days.
The semifinals that were supposed to be Thursday are now scheduled Friday.
But, as Forget noted, while Thursday’s forecast looks OK, Friday’s calls for more showers.
“Friday,” he said, “is kind of complicated.”
That would mean the women’s semifinals could end up Saturday.
Also moved from Wednesday to Thursday were the last two men’s quarterfinals: No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia, attempting to win a fourth consecutive Grand Slam title, against No. 5 Alexander Zverev of Germany, and No. 4 Dominic Thiem of Austria vs. No. 10 Karen Khachanov of Russia. Instead of beginning at 8 a.m. EDT Thursday, play will start at 6 a.m.
One semifinal in each singles draw already was set Tuesday, so those players can sit back, relax and prepare.
On the men’s side, Rafael Nadal will face Roger Federer Friday for the sixth time at Roland Garros and 39th overall. They own a combined 37 Grand Slam championships.
“The one,” Forget called it, “that a lot of people are waiting for, of course.”
On the women’s side, it’s No. 26 Johanna Konta of Britain against unseeded Marketa Vondrousova, 19, of the Czech Republic.