Angry Rafael Nadal blasted French Open scheduling as a “joke” on Friday and claimed he was being treated unfairly.
The seven-time champion had his second round tie against Slovakia’s Martin Kliznan, which was the third match on the Court Suzanne Lenglen schedule on Thursday, cancelled as rain swamped Roland Garros.
He then played first up on Friday, completing a 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-3 win in almost three hours.
But he now faces having to play again on Saturday despite opponent Italian Fabio Fognini having finished his second-round match on Thursday afternoon.
Nadal was furious that on a day when the weather forecast had been especially gloomy, he was scheduled to follow one men’s match and a women’s singles.
“The schedule was wrong, it was a bad decision,” said Nadal.
Thursday had the worst weather interruptions of the week with barely five hours of action possible and with just over half the program completed.
Nadal was further incensed when he was told that Fognini had been given an earlier start time on Court Three because he and his opponent Lukas Rosol had doubles to play.
Fognini and Rosol had gone on court just after noon on Thursday after Jelena Jankovic had needed just an hour to finish off her women’s singles match.
“Today I was playing three hours while my opponent was in the locker room watching TV,” added Nadal.
“I cannot play third when my opponent has played second.
“The excuse they gave me was that they had to play doubles, but that’s a joke.
“In that case I should sign up for doubles. Sorry, but you can play doubles next week.”
Nadal also said it was unfair that on days when the weather is poor that men, who play best-of-five sets in the Grand Slams, are made to play second to women, who still play best-of-three.
“It’s not right and I hope they realise their mistake.”
Nadal is constantly wary of his schedule having missed seven months of action with a knee injury.
Since his return, he has won six titles in eight finals.
However, he has struggled this week in the cold, damp conditions, dropping the first set in both of his opening round matches.
“The only thing I can do is smile and be positive and be ready for tomorrow.”
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