Scheduling chaos at French Open as rain plays havoc on remaining Saturday matches at Roland Garros

This week at the 2024 French Open has been an unmitigated disaster at times due to a myriad of rain delays seeing those who don't sit at the top of schedule sitting around waiting to play and that continues on Saturday.

Of course, tournament director Amelie Mauresmo cannot foresee a ton of rain delays and in an ideal world, there wouldn't be any. But the tournament are struggling to get matches in on Saturday with a multitude moved and then switched again only minutes later.

Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev are currently playing on Court Philippe-Chatrier and Court Suzanne Lenglen respectively. But there will be two more matches which were already delayed from yesterday. Grigor Dimitrov v Zizou Bergs and Denis Shapovalov v Hubert Hurkacz were both due to be played on Friday. But due to rain delays have not been completed today either. They will get finished as priorities under the roof.

Holger Rune v Josef Kovalik initially was due to be played on Court 6. But Tommy Paul v Francisco Cerundolo being moved there now after the doubles. Most of the doubles schedule though including Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas in mixed doubles has been cancelled for the day already. There is a huge block of doubles barely completed which will likely take precedence on the so-called Middle Sunday.

Elsewhere, Peyton Stearns v Mirra Andreeva seemed to initially be rescheduled until tomorrow with their match dropping off the schedule. But both will now play at 6pm on Court 2 with Bianca Andreescu v Jasmine Paolini moving onto Court 3 at the same time. Elina Svitolina v Ana Bodgan completes the changes moving to Court 12.

Whilst the changes could mean the matches get completed tonight, most are on outer courts so are at the mercy of the weather. There is also the issue of players likely having to play two days in a row if they get rescheduled. Peyton Stearns v Mirra Andreeva for instance was initially cancelled. But likely had a place found for it in the schedule due to the fact that the winner has to then play on Monday.

Also as has been the ongoing theme at the French Open, it is the WTA matches which are often a bit of an afterthought and are shunted onto smaller courts due to the need to get men's matches done. This also opens the debate once more about night sessions and only one match being completed on Chatrier. When this issue could be solved if they allowed another match on both show courts. But instead, it is simply just Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud tonight who play from about 20:15 local time. Likely when many of these players are still toiling it out on outside courts.