“Very Very Cold to Play”: Rafael Nadal Unhappy Weather Conditions During Night Sessions at French Open 2020

World No.2 Rafael Nadal advanced to a record 13th semifinal at the French Open. Nadal thrashed Italian teenager Jannik Sinner in straight sets in the quarterfinals and converted six of the eight break point opportunities. The Spaniard was playing his 100th match at Roland Garros and improved his win-loss record to an astonishing 98-2.

The defending champion hasn’t lost a set to his semifinal journey and has dropped only 34 games in 15 sets. However, during the post-match conference, Nadal talked about the unfavorable cold weather during his quarterfinal match.

Due to the five matches scheduled at Court Philippe Chatrier before his match, Nadal began his quarterfinal match at 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday and finished past way past midnight the following day. The newly installed artificial lights have allowed night matches for the first time at the French Open.

“The problem is the weather. Having 2 days in the middle [between matches] is not a big deal. Of course, is not ideal finish- a match at 1:30 in the morning. But the problem is the weather. Is too cold to play. Honestly, is very, very cold to play tennis, no?” said Nadal.

Rafael Nadal compares tennis players to footballers

Nadal acknowledged that footballers also play under similar conditions, but pointed out that they are moving all the time. On the contrary, tennis players have to stop because of delays and during changeovers.

“I know football players plays under these conditions, but is little bit different. They are all the time moving. We stop, we come back, we stop on the changeovers. It is a sport that you are stopped in a lot of moments, no?” added Nadal.

Despite the harsh conditions, Nadal will face Diego Schwartzman in the semifinals of the French Open. Schwartzman had defeated Nadal in the quarterfinals of the Italian Open last month. It will be the duo’s 11th meeting, with Nadal leading the lopsided rivalry 9-1.

Schwartzman ousted the US Open champion, Dominic Thiem, in the quarterfinal in an epic five-set match to advance to his first-ever Roland Garros semifinal. Last year’s runner-up, Thiem, was two points away from victory in the fourth set tie-break, but Schwartzman clawed back and eventually won the fifth set 6-2.