Rio Olympics: 20 of 26 tennis matches postponed for rain
A spectator sits in a tribune during a rainfall that postponed matches in the tennis competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016. Credit: AP / Vadim Ghirda
RIO DE JANEIRO — Rafael Nadal went from being scheduled for a busy-as-can-be day to a day off at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, thanks to rain that forced postponement of 20 of 26 matches.
None of the nine courts at the Rio tennis venue has a roof, so near-constant showers Wednesday prevented any competition until at least 6:15 p.m. — 7½ hours after play was supposed to start.
After waiting and waiting in the hope of getting in matches, organizers eventually decided to take all but a half-dozen off the day’s schedule. Among those that were called off: All three that Nadal was supposed to take part in.
The 14-time Grand Slam champion and 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medalist originally was slated to play for Spain in the third round of singles against Gilles Simon of France, in the semifinals of men’s doubles with Marc Lopez against Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil of Canada, and in the first round of mixed doubles with Garbine Muguruza against Lucie Hradecka and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic.
Instead, Nadal will wait to get back on court.
Another man who wound up without a match to play: 2012 London Games champion Andy Murray, who plays Fabio Fognini of Italy next.
Both Murray and Nadal are attempting to become the first tennis player to win two singles gold medals.
The six matches that remained on Wednesday’s schedule after all of the changes included two apiece in men’s singles, women’s singles and mixed doubles.
Among those who could wind up playing — weather permitting, of course — is Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, who stunned Serena Williams in straight sets on Tuesday.
Svitolina faces two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the quarterfinals.
The other women’s singles match that wasn’t immediately postponed was Monica Puig of Puerto Rico against Laura Siegemund of Germany.
The men’s singles matches left on the schedule were Gael Monfils of France vs. 2014 U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic of Croatia, and No. 4 Kei Nishikori of Japan vs. Andrej Martin of Slovakia.
In mixed doubles, these were the two contests organizers were aiming to get on court: Carla Suarez Navarro and David Ferrer of Spain vs. Monica Niculescu and Florin Mergea of Romania; and Agnieszka Radwanska and Lukasz Kubot of Poland vs. Irina Begu and Horia Tecau of Romania.
Fans who held tickets for Wednesday’s day session can apply for ticket refunds at the Rio Olympics website.
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