After going back 4 months until September to escape the worst of the coronavirus, the French Open begins on Sunday, still suffering to loosen the clutches of the fatal pandemic.
As a result, Rafael Nadal’s bet for a 13th Paris name and a 20 Slam record, and Novak Djokovic’s quest for a moment’s triumph in the French capital, to take him to 18 majors, rival the aptitude in the war for the public’s attention.
After betting optimistically to allow 20,000 enthusiasts to sneak into Roland Garros’ compact venue, that figure fell from 11,500 to 5,000 as Covid-19 infections increased.
On Sunday night, the French Tennis Federation said players competing in the men’s playoffs had been fired.
Two tested positive while three others had contacted a coach who had also tested positive.
One of five players the most sensitive former 30 of Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, who forced quarantine after his coach Petar Popovic tested positive.
“We’re sure it’s a false positive because my coach has anti-bodies,” Dzumhur wrote on Instagram. “He was not allowed to take a test for a moment. I’m devastated. “
Others have been named in the Spanish media as Ernesto Escobedo of the United States, Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, Bernabe Zapata Miralles of Spain and Pedja Krstin of Serbia.
Popovic told L’Equipe that it is a “scandal” and that if “Nadal had been in our place, he would have been entitled to a moment or 3rd test. “
Between Thursday and Sunday, around 900 Covid-19 had been made, some had no doubts about their rigour.
“The French Open doesn’t play any games with this Covid test,” American Sachia Vickery tweeted. “I felt this deep in my thoughts!”
To worsen the issues, he later revealed on Monday that a player, who had to compete in the standings, had also tested positive and had been withdrawn.
Fears about the spread of the virus had already led protective champion and world number one Ashleigh Barty to skip the tournament. The Australian also decided not to participate in the recent US Open, as did Nadal and 2018 Roland Garros champion Simona Halep.
At Roland Garros, he and his entourage will be confined to two bioinsurance hotels.
On The Red Clay itself in Paris, where he has lost twice in his career, Nadal will be looking for a 13th place in what will be his fifth tournament in 2020.
The 34-year-old arrives a little poorly cooked with a quarter-final outing in Rome week, leading to the hypothesis that a dethronement is imminent.
However, the Spaniard knows that when he lost in the same stadium of the Italian capital in 2017, he temporarily swept a tenth Roland Garros wasting a set.
“It’s an absolutely special and unpredictable year,” said Nadal, whose appearance in Rome is the first outing since February.
Djokovic, meanwhile, remains Nadal’s biggest threat, newly crowned US Open champion Dominic Thiem, has complained that he has finished with the Spaniard in Paris in the past two years.
Having been excluded from the US Open, Djokovic recovered in Rome with a final victory over Nadal’s conqueror Diego Schwartzman, giving the world number one a record 36 Masters crown.
Djokovic now has four trophies at times in 2020 with a 31-1 win-loss record.
Data verification: Djokovic’s record at the Rome Masters is proof of his genius on the field
The victory in Rome came the day he achieved his 287th week as world number one, beating Pete Sampras on the all-time list and with Roger Federer 310 ahead of him.
There is no Federer in Paris this year, as the Swiss star continues to adjust after knee surgery forced him to cancel his 2020 season. Naomi Osaka, winner of the US Open, who still reached the third circular in the French capital, is breastfeeding a thigh injury.
Serena Williams is expected to play as the 38-year-old continues her quest for a major hard-to-reach.
However, the 2002, 2013 and 2015 Roland Garros champion indicated that she was unsure after the organizers insisted that all players stay in the tournament hotels. Williams says he prefers to use his Paris apartment.
Meanwhile, Roland Garros will throw its new retractable roof into the centerpiece of the Philippe Chatrier court.
The tenuous Gentile – a real challenge with the occasion ending this year on 11 October – will at least be offset by 4 illuminated short films.