Between Covid-19 and threatening weather, Roland-Garros launches its fall edition this Sunday

Six months after the surprise announcement of its postponement, Roland-Garros is launching its exceptionally autumnal 2020 edition this Sunday, September 27, 2020. An unusual kick-off, between restrictions and constraints linked to Covid-19 and very threatening skies.

The opening of the Parisian Grand Slam is the culmination of six months of twists and turns, from its rescheduling decided unilaterally by the French Tennis Federation (FFT) in mid-March to a final tightening of its spectator gauge at 1000 per day at the maximum which occurred only three days ago.

A strict health protocol

Roland-Garros initially aimed to welcome up to 20,000 spectators daily at the start of the summer. But the reality of Covid-19 suddenly caught up with him: faced with the resurgence of the epidemic in France in September, this gauge shrunk to a trickle in less than three weeks, first to 11,500 maximum, then 5,000, and finally 1,000 spectators per day. Light years away from the 520,000 visitors received in 2019.

"Tens of millions (of euros) have gone up in smoke," said the deputy director general of the marketing and economic development division of the FFT Stéphane Morel.

To organize the tournament despite everything, Roland-Garros has implemented a strict health protocol for players, as well as for their entourage, reduced in this case.

First there is the repeated ax of PCR tests, the first two in the space of 48 hours upon arrival in Paris and the following ones every five days. Screenings that caused misunderstandings and criticism even before the start of the tournament, after the positive results of coaches or players claiming to have been contaminated before and to have antibodies.

There is also the strict obligation to stay in one of the two hotels reserved for them almost exclusively. Plus that of not leaving, at the risk of having his accreditation withdrawn, except to go to the stadium – only on match days – and in training, or for medical reasons.

Unfavorable weather

After all these obstacles overcome somehow, it is now the Parisian sky that threatens the smooth running of the tournament this Sunday. Météo France predicts rain, temperature felt nine degrees and gusts of wind up to 60 km / h. A formidable cocktail.

"The conditions are probably the most difficult I've ever known at Roland-Garros", summarizes Rafael Nadal, crowned twelve times on clay in Paris.

The good news for Roland-Garros is that its main court finally has a retractable roof to protect it from the rain. Concretely, eleven wings which unfold in about fifteen minutes to cover the Philippe-Chatrier court but without transforming it into a closed room. Thus it is no longer the last of the four Grand Slam tournaments to be completely dependent on the vagaries of the weather.

Historical stakes for the players

On the short side in any case, the stakes are historic. For Rafael Nadal (34), it is a question of winning a thirteenth trophy at Roland-Garros – unheard of in the same Grand Slam tournament – ​​and equaling the record of twenty major crowns set by Roger Federer (convalescent after a double right knee surgery and absent from the circuit until 2021).

For world number 1 Novak Djokovic (33), to become the first player in the Open era, and only the third in history (after Rod Laver and Roy Emerson), to offer himself at least twice each of the four Grand Slam titles. An 18th overall.

While waiting for their entry into the running, Simona Halep, crowned in 2018 and No.1 contender for the title, and Caroline Garcia have the honors of the Central court for the first day. So did the first-round clash between two three-time Grand Slam winners, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka.

Source: © 2020 AFP

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