Nadal/Zverev to be played on Monday afternoon!
Since the draw was made on Thursday, this has been one of the big questions at the start of the fortnight. How will the 1st round clash be programmed? As we all know, Prime Video has privatized the 11 night sessions, and the pay broadcaster would certainly like to have exclusive rights to such a match. However, it would appear that the match is likely to be played in the afternoon, which means a free-to-air broadcast on FranceTV (probably France 2).
In fact, although the official schedule has not yet been announced, L'Équipe tells us that the first round should be scheduled for the daytime session on Monday. This news is likely to reassure many fans, as there were fears that the match would be privatized by the streaming platform. According to L'Équipe, this choice of programming is explained by an explicit request from the Majorcan. Rafa' asked the tournament to schedule the match during the day. Not surprising, given that the Spaniard's lift is much more effective during the day than in the evening.
This choice is likely to please just about everyone, with the possible exception of Alexander Zverev, who would probably have preferred to play in a night session.
French Open 
Features - Saudi Arabia, injuries, war, and business: the fascinating underbelly of tennis revealed by TennisTemple 
Davis Cup: between reforms, criticism and national culture 
The paradox dividing tennis: exhausted players and a saturated calendar, yet ever more exhibitions 
Training future champions: spotlight on the decline of the French public model facing private academies 