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Novak Djokovic wins after Paris fans boo 11 p.m. curfew

10 Jun 2021

      [caption id="attachment_142110" align="alignleft" width="428"] Djokovic’s victory over Berrettini last night was the one and only night-session match to have fans at this year’s tournament - until they were turfed out at 11 p.m. local time[/caption]

Why did the fans have to leave?

Just as there had been during Nadal’s afternoon match on Wednesday, there was a buoyant mood on Chatrier when Djokovic met Berrettini in the first Roland Garros night session to have fans.

The previous matches held under the floodlights had all been played behind closed doors because of a 9 p.m. curfew imposed by France’s coronavirus restrictions.

The rules had been loosened on Wednesday, allowing more fans - up to 5,000 - to watch on Chatrier than previously throughout the tournament.

But, shortly after Berrettini provided competition to Djokovic again and the fourth set was delicately poised, the players left the court as spectators were turfed out in order to meet the newly extended 11 p.m. curfew.

“I didn’t mind actually leaving the court because I felt like I needed a little bit of a break and reset,” said Djokovic.

“It’s unfortunate for the tournament, for the crowd, to have that curfew. But we knew it before the match.”

Questions were raised about why the French Tennis Federation decided to start the match not before 8 p.m. local time (11.30 p.m. Sri Lanka Time), when there was a gap of almost two hours after the end of Nadal’s win over Diego Schwartzman in the other semi-final.

“I would love to know why they started the match so late,” former British number-one Annabel Croft has said on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

“It hasn’t suited anyone. This is now eerie - the complete opposite to the atmosphere the two were playing in. Berrettini, in particular, was feeding off the energy of the crowd.”

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[caption id="attachment_142111" align="alignleft" width="421"] Djokovic, who won his only French Open in 2016, is bidding to become the first man in the Open era to win each of the four Grand Slams twice[/caption]

World number-one Novak Djokovic teed up a French Open semi-final with Rafael Nadal last night by beating Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, current world number-nine in a match which was stopped in mid way to ensure fans could leave the venue, Stade Rolland Garros, before an 11 p.m. curfew in Paris.

Serbia’s Djokovic won the opening two sets, leaving him on course to complete victory in front of the 5,000 fans, allowed to watch the night session, described BBC in its graphic report of one of the most eventful matches of the championship so far.

The report followed thus:

Berrettini won a third-set tie-break, forcing an exodus greeted by loud boos. When the players returned, Djokovic wrapped up a 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5 win.

The final stages of the match were played in eerie silence, like the previous night matches in the tournament, after initially taking place in front of an exuberant crowd.

Sets up semi-final meeting with Nadal

That stillness was punctured, however, by Djokovic’s manic celebrations when he took his third match point. With his eyes wide and fists punching his chest, the Serbian roared his delight at coming through.

Victory ensures Djokovic will renew his enduring rivalry with Nadal, who is aiming for a record-extending 14th title at Roland Garros.

The pair will meet for the 58th time in their illustrious careers, with the winner going on to face Greek fifth-seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or German sixth seed Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s (13) final.

Federer and Nadal 20, Djokovic 18

Nadal, 35, is still deemed the favourite to land the trophy, which would be a 21st Grand Slam triumph and move him clear of Roger Federer for the first time in terms of most men’s majors.

Djokovic, 34, is two behind Nadal and Federer after winning his 18th Grand Slam at the Australian Open in February.

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