Hurkacz and Dimitrov, rainmakers
As the first week draws to a close, one guest has been particularly noticeable since last Sunday: the rain. With the Round of 16 just around the corner, some of the players have hardly had a day off.
Two members of the Top 10 were particularly affected by the rainy conditions: Hubert Hurkacz (8th) and Grigor Dimitrov (10th). Not enjoying the honor of Roland-Garros' two central courts, the two men have been playing every day since Wednesday. Having won their last two matches, both over two days, they will now set foot on the Paris clay for the 5th day in a row.
Having successfully managed the many postponements and rescheduling of their matches, the two men, serious outsiders in Paris, will now go head-to-head (not before 5pm on Sunday). For a place in the last 16, Dimitrov, who defeated Marozsan (6-0, 6-3, 6-4) and Bergs (6-3, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4), and Hurkacz, who beat Nakashima (6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 7-6) and Shapovalov (6-3, 7-6, 4-6, 6-1), will have to come to terms with this unusual Grand Slam sequence. So, beyond the simple level of tennis, it will surely be the player with the best physical condition who comes out on top.
In any case, this type of scenario raises an obvious question: have the favourites and the French been overly favoured by the programming?
