Roland Garros starts sunday in an unscrutinized and wet Paris, still under the influence of the coronavirus that the organizers had and hoped to escape unilaterally delaying the Grand Slam’s chance on clay for four months.
On opening day she will see 2018 champion Simona Halep begin her career for a third primary, while Venus Williams, 40, launches her 23rd Roland Garros.
Andy Murray will face three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka in today’s marquee in a refurbishment of his epic 2017 semi-final duel.
However, it will be an unknown tournament, even for defending champion Rafael Nadal, looking for a 13th title in Paris, and 2016 winner and world number one Novak Djokovic, as well as Serena Williams, in search of an 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.
The organizers hoped to welcome 20,000 enthusiasts a day, but within a few weeks, this 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 have gone away,” said Stéphane Morel, marketing director of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), lamenting the loss of earnings on tickets.
Players, meanwhile, confined to two tournament hotels with strict restrictions on their movements.
It is in the hotels where they pass the Covid-19 tests, source of controversy and recriminations in the construction.
Last weekend, players competing 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.
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On Friday, Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco said he was “outraged and frustrated” after being withdrawn after a failed control of Covid-19 that he said among a steady stream of negative results.
Verdasco said he’s been tested for the time being.
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 the court on Sunday, Halep, seeded in the absence of world number one Ashleigh Barty, who has selected 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 led him to the breakout point of retirement.
The day after her sister Serena celebrated her birthday, Venus Williams, 40, who made her Paris debut in 1997, confronts 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 and a loss in 2020 due to his breach at the US Open when he swept a ball of frustration and beat a line judge.
“I’ll 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.
Cold convenience when Roland Garros begins in the shadow of coronavirus/International Business Times cable services.