In Paris, attention isn’t solely focused on the French Open as the Champions League final is creating excitement too. A notable team in this prestigious soccer event is Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), inviting vested interest from tennis communities at Roland-Garros, which is nearby. With PSG battling Italy’s Inter Milan in Munich, tennis stars have strong opinions, including Novak Djokovic, a PSG supporter who hopes to catch the match on TV amidst his schedule at the French Open.
Djokovic, who has triumphed three times at the clay-court tournament, attempted to influence the program planners to accommodate his sports preferences, a common practice for elite players. Players often request matches at particular times or to avoid conflicting schedules. Laughing, Djokovic hinted at his preference, “I will definitely watch it if I’m not playing (in the) night session. Yeah, that will be nice. FYI, Roland-Garros schedule.” However, his desires were not reflected in the final schedule. Scheduled to play against Filip Misolic under the lights at Court Philippe-Chatrier, Djokovic’s match starts 45 minutes before the kick-off between Inter Milan and PSG.
Other players too had input into their scheduled match times. For instance, Arthur Fils, a 14th-seed who is a big PSG enthusiast, was originally scheduled to play in the afternoon but had to withdraw due to a back injury. Tournament Director Amélie Mauresmo outlined that while they receive many requests from players, there isn’t a strict protocol. Instead, player requests are balanced with the preferences of broadcasters and spectators: “It’s a real puzzle,” she admitted.
Coco Gauff, another top player, mentioned that she seldom requests specific slots, though it’s typically due to competing in both singles and doubles on the same day. Gauff, who won last year’s French Open doubles title, observed that high-ranked players tend to have their requests considered more seriously. “If you’re ranked a little bit higher, they’ll hear more of your input, for sure,” she remarked. She believes that prominent players deserve a degree of scheduling priority, considering their accomplishments.
However, being a top player doesn’t guarantee getting one’s wishes fulfilled, as Madison Keys expressed. Despite being a veteran and a Grand Slam finalist, Keys shared her experiences of being overlooked. She noted, “Sometimes the request goes (in), they write it down, and they say, ‘OK,’” but often there is no follow-up action. Decisions generally hinge on the tournament’s priorities and television interests.
Djokovic reflected, “Whatever they schedule me, I have to accept.” Acknowledging his status, he noted he has earned the right to communicate his preferences with tournament management based on various factors such as the opponent and day’s conditions.