The 2012 French Open has been plenty dramatic this first weekend. There have been lots of unexpected losses, questionable officiating, and some really close matches.
One thing that keeps happening every year at the French Open is the lack of lighting on each of the courts. In this weekends’ case, a few of the first matches ran late, therefore the next scheduled match is delayed – and if it’s a men’s match, we are looking at best of five sets.
There is nothing worse in the heat of any set, when the match has to be suspended, especially when you’re deep in the fifth set. How horrific if you’re the player who has the momentum going in your favor and all of the sudden, you’re told that you will have to continue the next day. That will change the entire dynamic of the competition.
For example, Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro is leading Tomas Berdych two sets to one. Having to stop play could be disastrous for DelPo. Martin had the match in his hands, but had to stop playing because it dark, what is that? It’s basically taking away the momentum that a player has and makes them have to start over the next day.
The same goes for Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, he and Stan Wawrinka had each won 2 sets and Tsonga was up four two in the fifth. Can you imagine the difficulty to pick up right from where he left off? It could be detrimental to closing out his match. There is a real good chance that Tsonga could have slept bad the night before or ate too much or whatever, it can change everything!
Basically, Roland Garros needs to seriously consider installing some bright lights on all stadiums! This is a serious thing to consider, it seems that the French Open is the most outdated major venue of the four, even Wimbledon updated Centre Court with a retractable roof and floodlights. It’s not that hard, especially with all the money that flows through the two weeks of the tournament. Just get some freaking lights!!!!
It is especially hard as a spectator, I’m on the west coast and to have a tennis match stopped half way through; the match will resume at 4 or 5 in the morning. I also get emotionally involved in several matches, but it’s like the rug gets pulled out from under me when the tournament officials come out and call match suspension. It’s infuriating.
More to come tomorrow!