Patience has been the key to Andy Murray’s new-found prowess on clay, according to his French Open opponent Radek Stepanek.
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The world No 2 produced a determined response after dropping two sets, but must resume his first round match with Stepanek today after the players were forced off by the gloomy conditions at Roland Garros.
Sensing that Murray was on the march, Stepanek wanted the match to be halted at that point, but the umpire ignored his protests and Murray broke again to take command of the fourth set.
The Czech, a self-confessed awkward player, can boast two wins from eight previous meetings with Murray and is a player the 29-year-old would have hoped to avoid when the qualifiers were placed.
Seeds falling by the wayside included 2012 runner-up Sara Errani, the Italian 16th seed, who lost to 2010 Wimbledon semi-finalist Tsvetana Pironkova 6-3, 6-2.
“When you go through two days like this, you realize the importance of having a roof over your courts”, said the 51-year-old.
Even a teenage Murray took a dislike to the Czech when they met at Wimbledon in 2005 and where his opponent theatrically bent over and kissed the net and played up to the crowd.
Lasting a shade over three hours, Wawrinka would have probably wanted an easier outing as he attempts to become the eighth man to win back-to-back French Opens in the Open Era.
The Serbian has twice had benign tumours removed from his foot, and he said: “I don’t feel I’m completely fit”.
Wawrinka is a two-time Grand Slam title victor; Rosol never has made it past the third round in 20 major tournaments and is 110-137 in tour-level matches.
Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams and nine-time champion Rafael Nadal also begin their campaigns.
With rain not expected to ease until around 1500 (1300GMT), the tournament was already facing a backlog after just over four hours of play were possible on Sunday.
“And the roof is actually the last piece of that puzzle”, said Forget, explaining that Court Philippe Chatrier would need a restructuring to be able to support the weight of a roof.
Wawrinka won the title at home in Geneva for a boost of confidence – downing Rosol in the semifinals – but then faced a quick turnaround.
It is still raining in Paris and French Open organizers have announced there will be no play at least before 1 p.m.
Defending champion Stan Wawrinka got off to a shaky start at the French Open, surviving five tough sets to beat Lukas Rosol 4-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 Monday in the first round.
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Second seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland brushed aside Serbia’s Bojana Jovanovski 6-0, 6-2.
