And so there's some history. Day 7 saw the latest ever finish at the French Open – thanks to the rain and the obsession with men.
Rain holds up the love
And so the rain washed away the joys of doubles play on Day 7. French Open organisers decided to scrap the games as they announced that play would get under way at 5.15pm – six or so hours after it was meant to start.
The delay will give Paula Badosa a chance to recover properly. The 26-year-old Spaniard lost her third round singles match in straight sets to her good chum Aryna Sabalenka. Badosa was due to go out and take solace in the mixed doubles at the side of boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas.
"It's not easy, of course, but we are so used to falling and we have to stand up every single day," declared Badosa. "It's a beautiful opportunity also sharing the court with somebody you love." Ace.
Wild and groovy?
It must be the rain. The four-hour-and-14-minute number between fourth seed Alexander Zverev and the 26th seed Tallon Griekspoor was supposed to be followed by the void between the last of the day matches on Court Philippe Chatrier and the night match, which is due to start at 8.15pm.
But suddenly the night match audience were given the unfinished tie between Grigor Dimitrov and Zizou Bergs before the clash between Novak Djokovic and Lorenzo Musetti. That chugged on until 10.20pm. Djokovic and Musetti got going just over two hours later than planned.
Endings
Inevitably, the third-round tie between Novak Djokovic and Lorenzo Musetti went on and on and on. Great if you are watching on TV – since this is really who the night session is geared towards – but not brilliant if you have to get home by public transport. The match finished at 3.08am with Djokovic advancing to the fourth round. But the stadium was half full.
Organisers have got to start asking themselves: how do they want their tournament to look? Here's a thing: it wouldn't have been so late had there been a three-set women's match for the night session. The right thing to do could have actually helped avoid the increasing perception of cack-handedness. But that's what happens when a tournament eschews equality and projects an obsession with men.
Look
Fourth seed Alexander Zverev showed commendable calm during his first-round match against Rafael Nadal. He didn't do much fist-pumping during his straight-sets victory over the 14-time champion on Day 2. Down a double break in the final set of his third-round match against the 26th seed Tallon Griekspoor on Day 6, he was preternaturally placid.
"I told myself I want to become a different type of player and different type of role model as well in a way," said the German. "I don't break racquets anymore. I barely get warnings. I kind of had this conversation with myself, and I realised that I don't do any good to myself and especially to people and kids watching. I'm glad it's working out."
Saturday night, Sunday morning
What's happening to the review? Day 7 and no tenuous musical references? Is it the late nights? When the review was a lad, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Saturday night, Sunday morning had different connotations. But here we are.
Buzzing light years later in Paris to view a nocturnal Novak Djokovic win at 3.08am. That feat put him in the French Open record books with Lorenzo Musetti as latest winner and loser respectively at the venerable tournament. On Monday, should he beat Francisco Cerundolo, Djokovic will hold the record for most match wins at the four Grand Slam tournament venues in Melbourne, Paris, London and New York.
Following his own Saturday night, Sunday morning thang, he drew level with Roger Federer on 369. Well, if he doesn't break the mark here in Paris, he'll probably do so at Wimbledon – most likely of an afternoon into early evening. How terribly civilised.
