At outdoor tennis competitions, the rain remains one of the toughest opponents, infuriating organizers, players and fans alike.
Downpours have wreaked their fair share of havoc on this year’s National Bank Open presented by Rogers, whose activities have been slowed and postponed.
First, the Thursday evening session was cancelled due to persistent drizzle. Then the Friday matches were put on ice when the tail end of tropical storm Debby pushed the competition to Saturday.
That means the players have two hectic days ahead of them, since most will have to battle twice on Saturday and Sunday. The situation is worst for those who didn’t play on Thursday night and are still in the second round of a tournament that wraps up on Monday.
If they win, they still face an uphill battle, namely five singles matches.
But Montréal isn’t the only city to contend with increasingly challenging, not to say extreme, weather conditions. There were rainouts in Rome, Paris and even in the middle of the desert in Indian Wells (and those bees!).
Super Saturday
Assuming things go swimmingly on Saturday, fans will be rewarded for their patience with plenty of sensational tennis action. It all starts at 11 a.m.
READ: Getting to know the 19 singles players left in Montréal
Up first is the second round. On Centre Court, Hubert Hurkacz takes on Thanasi Kokkinakis. Over on Rogers Court, Flavio Cobolli and Arthur Rinderknech will finish what they started, while Sebastian Korda and Taylor Fritz (9) head over to Court 5.
Afterwards, but not before 12:30, World No.1 Jannik Sinner continues his title defense against Canadian-born Chilean Alejandro Tabilo (15) on Centre Court. Rogers Court will host Andrey Rublev (5) and Brandon Nakashima, and Court 5 will be stage of Kei Nishikori versus Nuno Borges. Meanwhile, Matteo Arnaldi and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina will collide on Court 9.
Alexander Zverev (2) and Holger Rune (13) play the third match of the day on Centre Court. Third on Rogers Court are Grigor Dimitrov (7) and Alexei Popyrin.
After 4 p.m., Casper Ruud will try to outlast either Korda or Fritz on Rogers Court, while the two winners of the 11 a.m. matches square off on Court 5.
And there’s plenty more action in the evening. Sinner or Tabilo will make another appearance on Centre Court against either Nakashima or Rublev. Then Davidovich Fokina or Arnaldi will face Borges or Nishikori.
And don’t forget all the doubles duels throughout the day!
Featured photo: Patrice Bériault
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