However, rather than getting worked up about the French Open not having any court cover like the other three majors, it was the organisers’ decision to make the players compete in misty rain on Tuesday that overshadowed Wednesday’s on-court action.
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On court Tuesday in the fourth round: No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs.
He needed only seven minutes of action to claim that set when they resumed, taking the first two games played Wednesday.
As well as the players, some fans were also unhappy that, because those on Chatrier saw a minute over two hours of play, they are not entitled to any refund, while supporters on other courts will receive 50 per cent.
Granollers made the last 16 without hitting a ball when nine-time champion Rafael Nadal pulled out of the tournament with a wrist injury.
Under the original schedule, all of the fourth round was to be completed on Monday, leaving Tuesday and Wednesday for the quarterfinals.
Four of the top 11 players remain in the women’s tournament: No. 1 Serena Williams, No. 4 Garbine Muguruza, No. 8 Timea Bacsinszky and No. 9 Venus Williams.
Murray again led 5-2, this time breaking in the sixth game, before his dropshot woes returned.
Djoko will be playing his 10th quarter final at the Roland Garros. Because there has been no play at all on Monday, ticket holders can apply for reimbursement.
Backsinszky, a semifinalist at the French Open a year ago, can make it back to that stage if she beats 58th-ranked Kiki Bertens next.
The world number one, chasing the only grand slam title to elude him, will take on either former runner-up David Ferrer of Spain or Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych.
Bertens eliminated a seeded player for the third time in the tournament, after upsetting No. 3 Angelique Kerber, the Australian Open champion, in the first round, then No. 29 Daria Kasatkina in the third round.
Persistent rain showers accompanied by a flood warning washed out the entire day’s play at the French Open on Monday for the first time since 2000.
Yes, they actually managed to complete a match on this wettest of weeks at the French Open.
But the momentum shifted dramatically in the eighth game when the Scot, stepping further into the court as he tried to force the pace, conceded three points in a row with unforced errors when 0-30 up.
With a new retractable roof scheduled to be available at this year’s U.S. Open, the French Open is the only Grand Slam tournament without a structure for play to continue under rain.
Defending champion Serena plays No. 18 Elina Svitolina. Shortly before that, Halep lost 7-6 (0), 6-3 to No. 21 Sam Stosur in a contest between two past finalists at Roland Garros.
Forget says the scheduling delays caused by the rain are “problematic” but “not catastrophic” because fourth-round matches will start earlier than initially planned and be spread over more courts.
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She will next play unseeded Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan, who beat Spanish 12th seed Carla Suarez Navarro 7-5 7-5 – the first of a potential four matches if four days.
