French Open players often make schedule requests. No one wanted to miss the Champions League final

PARIS — Tennis and Soccer Clash in Europe: Djokovic’s Plea Unheeded

The sporting world in Europe is abuzz with excitement as two major events, the French Open and the Champions League final, coincide on the same day. While tennis players battle it out on the clay courts of Roland-Garros, soccer fans eagerly anticipate the clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan in the Champions League final. Novak Djokovic, a tennis star and PSG supporter, expressed his desire to watch the soccer match but found his plea for a favorable schedule unheeded.

Djokovic, a three-time French Open champion, hoped to catch the Champions League final on TV if he wasn’t playing in the night session. However, when the order of play was released, his third-round match was scheduled under the lights at Court Philippe-Chatrier, coinciding with the start of the soccer match. Despite his request, Djokovic had to accept the scheduling decision.

Tournament director Amélie Mauresmo revealed that players often make requests regarding their match scheduling, and efforts are made to accommodate them as much as possible. However, with numerous factors to consider, including player preferences, broadcaster requirements, and spectator interests, creating the schedule is a challenging task.

Elite players like Coco Gauff, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, have observed that higher-ranked players tend to have more influence over scheduling decisions. Gauff acknowledged that players who perform well on the tour deserve priority in scheduling considerations.

However, even top players like Madison Keys, a Grand Slam runner-up, have experienced instances where their requests were overlooked. Keys noted that tournament organizers and TV networks ultimately determine the schedule, sometimes deviating from player preferences.

Despite the challenges of scheduling and player requests, Djokovic emphasized the need to accept the decisions made by tournament management. As players continue to balance their on-court performance with external factors, the intricate dance of scheduling in the sports world remains a complex puzzle.

Associated Press writer Tom Nouvian contributed to this report.

Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here. More AP tennis coverage can be found here.