Roland Garros starts sunday in an unscrutinized and humid Paris, even under the effects of the coronavirus from which the organizers hoped to escape by unilaterally postponing the Grand Slam occasion on clay for 4 months.
Opening day will see 2018 champion Simona Halep begin her bid for a third primary, while Venus Williams, 40, will begin her 23rd Roland Garros.
Andy Murray faces fellow three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka in today’s marquee in a refurbishment of his epic 2017 semi-final duel.
Retractable roof offers new look at Court Philippe Chatrier Photo: AFP / Thomas COEX
However, it will be an unknown tournament, even for defending champion Rafael Nadal, in search of a thirteenth name in Paris, and 2016 winner and world number one Novak Djokovic, as well as Serena Williams, chasing a elusive 24th major.
An increase in Covid-19 instances means that only 1,000 viewers will be able to enter the box day.
In 2019, more than 500,000 people watched the two-week tournament at the venue.
Employees speak in front of a notice board as autumn chestnuts crowd the Roland Garros pitch Photo: AFP / Anne-Christine POUJOULAT
The organizers hoped to welcome 20,000 enthusiasts a day, but within a few weeks that figure was temporarily reduced to 11,500 and then to 5,000 before the French government reduced it to a maximum of 1,000.
“Tens of millions of euros vanished,” said Stéphane Morel, marketing director of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), while lamenting the loss of ticket revenue.
Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka in a position for the Roland Garros blockbuster Photo: BELGA / JOHN THYS
Players, meanwhile, confined to two tournament hotels with strict restrictions on their movements.
It is in the hotels where they pass the tests of the Covid-19, source of controversy and recriminations in the construction.
Last weekend, the players who were supposed to compete in the men’s playoffs were fired.
Two tested positive while three others had been in contact with coach Petar Popovic, who also tested positive.
A hand sanitist at the front of one of the Photo courts: AFP / Martin BUREAU
Popovic told L’Equipe that it is a “scandal” and that if “(Rafael) Nadal had been in our place, he would have been entitled to a moment or 3rd test. “
On Friday, Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco said he was “outraged and frustrated” after being withdrawn following a Covid-19 test failure, which he said among a steady stream of negative results.
Verdasco said he’s been tested for the time being.
The French Open kicks off on Sunday with players to get out of the shadow of the coronavirus Photo: AFP / KENZO TRIBOUILLARD
Inside Roland Garros Park, in the filthy and rich western district of Paris, there are other symptoms of the effect of the pandemic.
Typically, bustling retail outlets, food outlets and other advertising stalls were closed.
Everyone in the tournament, adding players if in action or practice, are masked. Hand sanitizers dot the site.
Instead of the tournament-related early summer sun in its classic slots from May to June, players will tremble at 16 degrees (60F) on Sunday with rain and strong winds predicted for the first week.
This means overtime for the new retractable roof over the centerpiece of the Philippe Chatrier court.
On Sunday on the court, Halep, seeded in the absence of world number one Ashleigh Barty, who chose to protect her name for fitness reasons, takes on Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo, ranked 70th.
Wimbledon champion Halep is the favorite, and US Open champion Naomi Osaka is not due to injury.
Murray, a former world number one, beats 2015 champion Wawrinka in his first paris appearance in 3 years.
In 2017, the Swiss won a five-set semi-final, an attack so reluctant that he contributed to Murray’s long war with a hip injury that brought him to the limit of retirement.
The day after her sister Serena celebrated her birthday, 40-year-old Venus Williams, who made her debut in Paris in 1997, faces Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia.
Nadal, who is going to win a 13th Roland Garros and move to the point of Roger Federer’s absence from a 20-bests record, plays on Monday.
However, the 34-year-old Spanish star says this year will be the “hardest”.
He also complained about using the new Wilson bullet, saying it was too heavy and potentially dangerous.
Nadal opposed Egor Gerasimov, the Belarusian in 83rd place.
Djokovic, looking for a 18th major, will begin Tuesday with a record of 31 wins in 2020 and a loss due to his breach at the US Open when he swept a ball of frustration and beat a line judge.
“I’m going to make sure I don’t make the same mistake twice,” said the 33-year-old Serb, who faces Swede Mikael Ymer in the first round.