Australian Open 2020: Weather chaos plays havoc with AO schedule

The Australian Open faces the prospect of a backlog of first-round matches after rain ravaged the opening day’s schedule with first round matches set to be completed as late as Wednesday.

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The Australian Open faces the prospect of a backlog of first-round matches after rain ravaged the opening day’s schedule.

While matches can be played late into the night on outside courts, it seems inevitable the program will be impacted.

By 7pm, more than 20 of the 64 scheduled singles matches had been postponed because of rain.

Those matches will be now played Tuesday.

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Spectators are drenched making the walk to Melbourne Park. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty

Milos Raonic walks off court during a rain delay. Picture: David Gray/AFP

An outdoor court is dried. Picture: AAP/Vince Caligiuri

It’s likely priority will be given to matches cancelled on Monday.

The forecast for the rest of the week is for improved conditions

Officials had hoped to stage 64 singles matches on each of the first two days, but those hopes now seem ambitious.

If there are delays, the first round could take until Wednesday to be completed.

But, given the tournament’s day and night scheduling, any disruption to the schedule is likely to be short-lived.

ROD LAVER 11AM START

Kristina Mladenovic (Fra) v 2-Karolina Pliskova (Cze)

19-Donna Vekic (Cro) v Maria Sharapova (Rus)

1-Rafael Nadal (Esp) v Hugo Dellien (Bol)

EVENING SESSION, 7PM

4-Daniil Medvedev (Rus) v Frances Tiafoe (US)

Elisabeth Cocciaretto (Ita) v 17-Angelique Kerber (Ger)

MARGARET COURT 11AM START

6-Belinda Bencic (Sui) v Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (Svk)

Adrian Mannarino (Fra)) v 5-Dominic Thiem (Aut)

Ajla Tomljanovic (Aus) v 31-Anastasija Sevastova (Lat)

EVENING SESSION, 7PM

Jennifer Brady (US) v 4-Simona Halep (Rou)

Marco Cecchinato (Ita)) v 7-Alexander Zverev (Ger)

MELBOURNE ARENA MORNING

Polona Hercog (Slo) v Rebecca Peterson (Swe)

10-Madison Keys (US) v Daria Kasatkina (Rus)

15-Damir Dzumhur (Bih) v Stan Wawrinka (Sui

Alexei Popyrin (Aus) v 28-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Fra)

EVENING SESSION, 7PM

23-Nick Kyrgios (Aus) v Lorenzo Sonego (Ita)

Originally published as Australian Open 2020: Weather chaos plays havoc with AO schedule