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PARIS: Roland Garros departed at the incruse “ridiculous” of Paris on Sunday, September 27, still under the influence of COVID-19, from which the organizers hoped to escape by unilaterally delaying the Grand Slam on clay for 4 months.
The game began with the new retractable roof of the closed tournament on Philippe Chatrier’s court.
Outside, on the strangely silent terrain of an occasion limited to only 1000 fans, it was another story when temperatures dropped to 10 degrees Celsius.
They were only imaginable 15 minutes of play before the heavy rain caused a suspension and former world number one and recent US Open finalist Victoria Azarenka complained about incredibly unsettled conditions.
“We’re sitting like ducks,” the two-time primary winner raged after 3 games of her opening attack against Danka Kovinic of Montenegro.
“It’s too cold, it’s 8 degrees, I live Florida. Se it’s getting a little ridiculous. I’m not waiting,” she said before she left to seek refuge in the back of the court, Suzanne Lenglen.
On opening day she sees 2018 champion Simona Halep begin her career for a third primary, while Venus Williams, 40, launches her 23rd Roland Garros.
Andy Murray faces off against fellow three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka on the marquee today in a review of their epic 2017 semi-final matchup.
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.
A resurgence of COVID-19 cases has reduced attendance to just 1,000 spectators consistent with the 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 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.
“Million SMOKE”
“Tens of millions of euros vanished,” said Stéphane Morel, marketing director of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), while lamenting the loss of ticket revenue.
Players, meanwhile, confined to two tournament hotels with strict restrictions on their movements.
It is in hotels where they pass the COVID-19 tests, a source of controversy and recriminations in accumulation.
Last weekend, players who were going 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.
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.
In the confines of Roland Garros, in the disgustingly rich district of western Paris, there are other symptoms of the effect of the pandemic that has pushed back the occasion of its classic schedule from May to June.
Normally, bustling outlets, supermarkets and other advertising stalls were closed.
Everyone in the tournament, adding players if in action or practice, are masked. Hand sanitizers dot the site.
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.
Former world number one Murray beat 2015 champion Wawrinka in his first appearance in Paris in 3 years.
VENUS IS YEARS OLD
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 the use of 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 failure at the U. S. Open when he swept a ball out of frustration and beat a line judge.
The 33-year-old Serb faces Swede Mikael Ymer in the first round.
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