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Washout Entire day postponed for first time in 27 years
Posted: Tuesday May 30, 2000 12:00 AM
PARIS (AP) -- Steady rain washed out an entire day's schedule at the French Open for the first time in 27 years, forcing the postponement of 64 first-round matches. Rain began falling overnight and continued through the day, with no letup forecast until late Wednesday morning. Defending champion Andre Agassi, Magnus Norman, Lindsay Davenport, Venus Williams and Anna Kournikova were among those with matches postponed. "Today's my 24th birthday, and I hoped to celebrate better than this," Norman said. "But that's life. What can you do?" Unlike Wimbledon, which keeps copious records of its many rain delays, no such comprehensive information is available regarding the 66-year history at Roland Garros. The most recent postponement of an entire day's schedule occurred in 1973, when the men's final was delayed two days by rain before Ilie Nastase beat Niki Pilic. But the postponement of so many matches may be unprecedented, officials said. Some players waited in vain at Roland Garros six hours or more. In a crowded lounge beneath Suzanne Lenglen Court, players played cards, pool and pinball. "Everybody's crazy already," said Russian Lina Krasnoroutskaya, at 16 the youngest player in the tournament. "Everybody is sitting, talking, eating, drinking." "No alcohol," fellow Russian player Anastasia Myskina added with a smile. Despite the miserable weather, a large crowd arrived early at Roland Garros, and scalpers sought up to $140 per ticket. On center court, fans huddled under umbrellas and overhangs and entertained themselves by singing, whistling, clapping and chanting. Lines were long at concession stands. "There is not much to do apart from queue for sandwiches and beer," Stephane Nauroy of Paris said. Business was brisk at souvenir shops, with one so crowded that security guards limited admission to control the number of customers inside. Because the entire schedule was postponed, fans were entitled to reimbursement for their tickets. Conditions were chilly and breezy but dry on Monday, when Pete Sampras made another early exit. He lost in the first round to Mark Philippoussis, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 8-6. The dramatic defeat was the latest in a series of disappointments for Sampras at the only Grand Slam tournament he has never won. Seven times he has been eliminated before the fourth round. "In a perfect world and a perfect career, you'd like to win all the majors," said Sampras, 28, who has a record-tying 12 Grand Slam titles. "I see myself playing a lot of years, but certainly each year that the French goes by and I don't win here, it's one opportunity missed." Sampras overcame a 4-2 deficit in the final set but lost the final eight points, double-faulting on match point to end the 3-hour, 39-minute match. He quickly stuffed his rackets in his bag and left the court, never looking up to acknowledge an ovation from the supportive crowd. "I certainly haven't gotten the breaks at this event over the years," he said. "Hopefully one year I'll get the breaks." Sampras was one of four seeded players beaten Monday. No. 15 Jennifer Capriati sustained her fourth consecutive defeat since late March, losing to Fabiola Zuluaga 6-3, 7-5, while two other Americans ousted seeded players. Meghann Shaughnessy upset No. 12 Julie Halard-Decugis 7-5, 6-4, and Jan-Michael Gambill beat No. 8 Nicolas Kiefer 6-3, 7-5, 6-1.
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