Paris (AFP)

Six months after the announcement to everyone's surprise of its postponement, Roland-Garros launches its exceptionally autumnal 2020 edition on Sunday, between restrictions and constraints linked to Covid-19 and very threatening skies.

The opening of the Parisian Grand Slam is the culmination of six months of twists and turns, from its reprogramming unilaterally decided by the French Tennis Federation (FFT) in mid-March until a final tightening of its spectator gauge to 1,000 per maximum day only three days ago.

Between the two, Roland-Garros initially aimed to welcome up to 20,000 daily spectators at the start of the summer.

But the reality of the Covid-19 suddenly caught up with him: faced with the resurgence of the epidemic in France in September, this gauge has shrunk like mourning in less than three weeks, first to 11,500 maximum, then 5,000, and finally 1,000 spectators per day.

Light years away from the 520,000 visitors received in 2019.

"Tens of millions (of euros) went up in smoke," said the deputy general manager of the marketing and economic development department of the FFT Stéphane Morel.

To organize the tournament despite everything, Roland-Garros has implemented a strict health protocol for players, as well as for their entourage, reduced in this case.

- Nine degrees -

First there is the repeated cleaver of PCR tests, the first two within 48 hours of arrival in Paris and the following every five days.

Screenings that caused misunderstandings and criticism even before the start of the tournament, after the positive results of coaches or players claiming to have been contaminated before and to have antibodies.

There is also the strict obligation to stay in one of the two hotels reserved for them almost exclusively.

No more that of not leaving, at the risk of losing his accreditation, except to go to the stadium - only on match days - and to training, or for medical reasons.

After all these obstacles overcome as best they can, it is now the Parisian sky that threatens the smooth running of the tournament from this Sunday.

Météo France forecasts rain, a felt temperature of nine degrees and wind gusts of up to 60 km / h.

A formidable cocktail.

"The conditions are probably the most difficult I have ever known at Roland Garros", summarizes Rafael Nadal, crowned twelve times on Parisian clay.

"At nine degrees, the body suffers a little. It is an extreme situation to play outdoors," he worries.

- Finally a roof -

The good news for Roland Garros is that its main court finally has a retractable roof to protect it from the rain.

Concretely, eleven wings that unfold in about fifteen minutes to cover the Philippe-Chatrier court but without transforming it into a closed room.

Thus it is no longer the last of the four Grand Slam tournaments to be completely dependent on climatic hazards.

Short side in any case, the stakes are historical.

For Nadal (34), conquer a thirteenth trophy at Roland-Garros - unprecedented in a single Grand Slam tournament - and equal the record of twenty major crowns set by Roger Federer (recovering after a double operation of the right knee and absent of the circuit until 2021).

For world No.1 Novak Djokovic (33), to become the first player of the Open era, and only the third in history (after Rod Laver and Roy Emerson), to offer himself at least twice each of the four Grand Slam titles.

An 18th overall.

While waiting for their entry into the running, Simona Halep, crowned in 2018 and contender N.1 for the title, and Caroline Garcia have the honors of the Central court for the first day.

Just like the shock of the first round between two triple Grand Slam winners, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka.

© 2020 AFP