French Open: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal face rain delays at Roland Garros

POOR weather in Paris today is set to cause problems for players on quarter-final day at the French Open.

By Uche Amako

12:17, Tue, Jun 4, 2019 | UPDATED: 16:43, Tue, Jun 4, 2019

French Open: Wawrinka ‘ready for challenge’ against Federer

The first nine days of the tournament has seen excellent weather in France for the second Grand Slam of the year.

But after sunny conditions, the forecast for today suggests the event could have its first prolonged delays.

According to the Met Office, the weather is set to be cloudy then changing to thundershowers in the afternoon.

From around 4pm local time, the chances of rain rise from 20 to 50 per cent.

ROGER FEDERER VS STAN WAWRINKA LIVE UPDATES

At 1pm UK time, Roger Federer plays Stan Wawrinka on Suzanne Lenglen while Britain’s Jo Konta is in action against Sloane Stephens on Philippe Chatrier.

Rafael Nadal follows Konta’s match with his quarter-final with Kei Nishikori and on Lenglen, Petra Martic faces Marketa Vondrousova in the second women’s quarter-final.

Although clay courts can take drizzle, heavy persistent rain will lead to players having to leave the court and subsequent delays.

The French Open is the only Major to not have a stadium with a roof but that will change by 2020.

Roger Federer

Roger Federer could be delayed by rain today (Image: GETTY)

French Open

The weather forecast for Paris today (Image: Met Office)

Roger Federer

Roger Federer plays Stan Wawrinka on Suzanne Lenglen (Image: GETTY)

It is expected that the new retractable roof will cover the stadium in 12 minutes.

“What’s at stake is to modernize, renovate this temple of clay,” said Bernard Guidicelli, the head of the French Tennis Federation.

“We don’t want to be a giant site. This stadium will grow with its plot of land, its heritage plot of land, and will have an extension that will be as retractable as the roof before, during, and after the tournament.

“We want to be what we are, the world championship of clay.

“Our raison d’etre is to be the promoter, the engine, the driving force of clay competition. We have started a process in order to label the big clubs on clay in the world, and they will get the label of the Roland Garros clubs.”