Rain Delays

Spring showers in Paris are becoming a bit of a nuisance to French Open players who just want to get on with their business on court. From Philippe Chatrier to Suzanne Lenglen and every other court on the grounds, heavy showers and overcast skies have forced play to be postponed until tomorrow morning, when a less dreary forecast is expected.

Featured matches like the one between Rafael Nadal and Martin Klizan did not really leave the starting gate, as the torrential downpour came just after the coin toss and pre-match formalities; whereas matches in full swing such as Zeballos/Wawrinka and Sharapova/Bouchard might  experience a shift in momentum come tomorrow. Stan was a up a set and at 3-all in the second against Horacio Zeballos so a re-entry might not cost him too much but Maria was well within reach of victory at 6-2, 4-2 against Bouchard when play was stopped. She can't be pleased about that.

Li Na won't have to wait out anything to know what her chances are. She practically had her "racket" handed to her in a three setter from which her opponent Bethanie Mattek-Stands emerged victorious (5-7, 6-3, 6-2). There goes the 2011 champ, out of the running, biting the dust, ousted by the American with the wardrobe that never ceases to amaze (Monfils would be proud). Quelle surprise! I wonder who'll be the next top seeder to go.

The players' skills and tenacity will tell us who, but it's the rain who determines when more RG action, upsets and stunners included, will unfold. Players may be stuck inside, winding up their own nerves and quickly losing patience but there isn't much that they or we can do but wait tolerantly and PRAY that the sun shines strong tomorrow.

Schedule of Play for tomorrow Friday May 31, according to the official Roland Garros website here (webpage version) or here (printable version).

One of the courts being quickly covered as rain stopped play on Thursday at Roland Garros