While the French Open continues to dominate the tennis scene in Paris, another major sporting event is sharing the spotlight this weekend the UEFA Champions League final. With Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) facing off against Inter Milan in Munich, even tennis stars are tuning in, including none other than Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion and lifelong football fan, had his eyes on Saturday’s final. The Serbian openly expressed his support for PSG and hoped to catch the match on TV, depending on how the Roland-Garros schedule shaped up.
“I will definitely watch it if I’m not playing (in the) night session. Yeah, that will be nice,” Djokovic said with a big smile. “FYI, Roland-Garros schedule.”
That subtle nudge, however, didn’t sway the schedulers. When the French Open released its Saturday order of play, Djokovic’s third-round match against Filip Misolic was given the marquee night slot on Court Philippe-Chatrier, scheduled to begin at 8:15 p.m. local time — just 45 minutes before the Champions League final kicks off.
Amelie Mauresmo on scheduling of the French Open
Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo acknowledged the delicate balancing act behind the scheduling process.
“We have many requests from players every day,” Mauresmo said. “There’s no fixed rule. We try to accommodate everyone as much as possible. That includes requests from players, broadcasters and spectators. ... It’s a real puzzle, I won’t lie.”
Djokovic will aim to keep his focus on advancing through the clay-court major he’s won three times even if it means missing the chance to cheer for PSG in real-time. Djokovic’s upcoming opponent, Filip Misolic, emerged victorious in a five-set thriller against Denis Shapovalov. Despite concerns raised by Djokovic’s medical timeout during the Moutet match, the tennis ace reassured fans that it was not a significant issue and that he is in good physical condition.
