Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, has faced a setback at the French Open as his request to avoid playing during the Saturday night session was turned down. This scheduling conflict means he will miss the Champions League final for the second consecutive year, much to his disappointment.
The Scheduling Snub
Djokovic, an AC Milan fan, had hoped to watch the Champions League final, but the French Open organizers scheduled his third-round match against Austrian qualifier Filip Misolic for Saturday at 8:15 PM, just before the football match’s kickoff in Munich. This decision has stirred controversy, especially since no women’s matches have been allocated to the night sessions this year.
Last year, Djokovic experienced a similar situation when his match against Lorenzo Musetti stretched until 3 AM. He later suffered a knee injury in his subsequent match, forcing him to withdraw from the tournament. Eager to avoid a repeat, Djokovic had expressed his desire to watch the Champions League final, humorously stating, “It’s going to be PSG that I will support. I will definitely watch it if I’m not playing the night session. Yeah, that will be nice. FYI, Roland Garros schedule!”
Djokovic’s Recent Performance and Injury Concerns
Despite the scheduling disappointment, Djokovic has been performing well at the French Open. In his second-round match against Corentin Moutet, he secured a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (1) victory. However, he faced a minor scare when he took a medical timeout in the third set for a blister on his big left toe.
Djokovic revealed that the post-match treatment, which included draining blood from his toe, took nearly an hour. “Not really a pleasant process,” he admitted. However, he reassured fans that he has “plenty of time to recover and get ready” for his next match and doesn’t anticipate any issues moving forward.
This victory marked Djokovic’s record 20th time reaching the third round at Roland-Garros, surpassing even Rafael Nadal’s record. He aims to reach the quarterfinals for the 16th consecutive year, a feat he missed in 2024 due to a knee injury sustained in the fourth round.
The Champions League Conflict
The scheduling of the night session has drawn criticism, as it clashes with the highly anticipated Champions League final. Players and fans alike are torn between their professional commitments and personal interests.
French No. 1 Arthur Fils also expressed his desire to watch the final without the distraction of a nighttime match. He even joked about his opponent, Andrey Rublev, potentially requesting the evening slot to disrupt his focus.
Tournament organizers are aware of the conflict but remain focused on delivering the best possible experience for tennis fans. “The fact that there’s the Champions League final won’t change much for us anyway,” said one organizer. “We’re trying to do our utmost for the tournament. We are very happy to PSG. We’re trying to do our job organizing this tournament. 15,000 people will come over here to watch tennis tomorrow. We’ll try to give them the best possible match.”
Looking Ahead
Djokovic will face Filip Misolic, the world No. 153, in the third round. Misolic, who is playing in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for only the second time, stunned 27th seed Denis Shapovalov in a four-hour match.
Despite the unfavorable scheduling, Djokovic remains focused on his performance at the French Open. He will be hoping to make quick work of Misolic so he can catch at least the end of the Champions League final.
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