Novak Djokovic briefly halted play during his opening match at the French Open as he approached the umpire and took issue with the conditions on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Commentators speculated that the world No. 6 didn’t want to continue through the breezy conditions, and the supervisor was called out to speak with Djokovic, who wanted the roof closed.
The three-time champion in Paris was seen in conversation with the chair umpire during the changeover at 3-2, but he still wasn’t happy when he retreated to the baseline, explaining that the clay was blowing in his eyes.
“I think that’s possibly what the conversation at the changeover might have been about, how are we going to manage the time clock here?” Miles Maclagan said in commentary as the Serb approached the chair while McDonald waited to serve.
“He has had problems occasionally because he wears contacts, Djokovic. Dusty conditions.”
Discussions continued, with Djokovic clearly not keen on playing, and the umpire called the supervisor to the court.
“If you are not happy to play, we stop. I’ve called him and he’s on the way, you can speak to him. We wait and he’s coming,” chair umpire Damien Dumusois told the sixth seed before supervisor Ali Nili came out.
It was a very windy afternoon, and some raindrops also started to fall as Djokovic and Nili started chatting. “We have a roof,” the Serb pointed out.
“If I’m Mackenzie McDonald and I’m hearing that, I’m pushing very hard to keep the roof open,” Maclagan added.
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