PARIS —
Rafael Nadal’s French Open quarter-final against long-time rival Novak Djokovic
will take place in Tuesday’s night session at Roland Garros despite the 13-time
champion’s desire to play in the day.
اضافة اعلان
Officials
confirmed Monday that the pair’s 59th career meeting will be the late match
under the lights of
Court Philippe Chatrier with the day’s other quarter-final
between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev set for the afternoon.
“I don’t like to
play on clay during the night, because the humidity is higher, the ball is
slower, and there can be very heavy conditions especially when it’s cold,” said
Nadal last week.
“I think that
makes a big difference between the way tennis is played on clay during the
night and during the day.”
Djokovic had
hinted he would prefer to face Nadal as late as possible.
“All I will say is
Rafa and I would make different requests,” said the world’s number one and
defending champion.
Alcaraz said it would
have been “unfair” if he was ordered to play after 9pm for the third time.
Nadal and Djokovic have played one match each so far after dark.
Zverev was also
dismissive of night-time conditions.
“I don’t mind the
evening sessions when it’s 30 degrees during the day,” said the 25-year-old.
“When it’s 14
degrees, then in the night it’s going to be what, 8, 9, something like that, it
gets difficult.”
Organizers faced a
dilemma over scheduling with host broadcaster Prime Video having the rights to
the tournament’s ten-night sessions.
Officials said an
agreement had been reached whereby the match — the 10th between Djokovic and
Nadal at Roland Garros — would be available free to air.
“The quarter-final
match between
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal scheduled for Tuesday 31 May at
8:45pm will be free to watch as unrestricted content in France across Prime
Video mobile and web apps,” said a statement.
However, France’s
public service broadcaster, which carries coverage of the tournament on
terrestrial channels, hit out.
“France Televisions
regrets this decision which deprives French viewers of one of the most
beautiful adverts of the tournament,” they said in a statement.
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