The storm Debby will have had reason of the National Bank Open of Montreal, Friday. The day and evening sessions were cancelled in the early afternoon due to the interminable rain falling on the Quebec metropolis.
“Due to current and forecast weather conditions throughout the day, and to ensure everyone’s safety, the matches on Friday 9 August will unfortunately not take place. [séances 9 et 10]”, communicated the organizers, inviting the few brave spectators present to calmly leave the IGA stadium.
A few brave amateurs showed up at the National Bank Open on Friday in Montreal. Photo Ben Pelosse
The evening matches had already been postponed the day before because the remnants of the hurricane were starting to cause problems.
The windows so hoped for by the director of the Montreal event, Valérie Tétreault, were either non-existent or not long enough to dry out the fields and allow play to resume. It must also be said that storms were in the air.
Meanwhile, tennis was being played in Toronto.
Food concessions were not very busy on Friday. Photo Ben Pelosse
A puzzle
Seeded players Hubert Hurkacz (4th) and Taylor Fritz (9th) were unable to start their second round match, respectively against Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis and American Sebastian Korda, champion last weekend in Washington.
Only the Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech and the Italian Flavio Cobolli were able to exchange a few balls, the first having taken a 3-0 lead over the man who beat Félix Auger-Aliassime on Wednesday.
These three duels were to launch the activities on Friday and this will still be the case on Saturday, at 11 a.m., when four courts will be used.
The winners, along with four other players, will play two matches on Saturday to complete the third round as well as two quarter-finals in the evening.
It is therefore possible that an athlete will play twice in singles on Saturday and Sunday, while the final is scheduled for Monday evening.
Ben Pelosse / GoM
Rogers Court in the rain on Friday. Photo Ben Pelosse
More details to come.
