Because there are now two separate ticket offices for the men’s semi-finals, lucky ticket holders for Friday are eagerly awaiting the order of the matches on the programme. The first poster is scheduled for 2:45 p.m., the second not before 3:30 p.m. (in the event of withdrawal or abandonment in the first). According to the logic proven in the last three editions of the tournament, it is the semi-finalists qualified since Tuesday who should open the ball, namely Djokovic and Alcaraz, in order to grant maximum recovery to the winners of the quarter-finals on Wednesday . But other parameters will be taken into consideration by the tournament management when making this crucial choice.
Better media visibility
If Amélie Mauresmo is very keen on sporting fairness, she must also take into account the demands of broadcasters, French and international, who will insist that the long-awaited clash between the world No. 1 and 3 be scheduled second. . First, to reach the largest possible audience in Europe and France, with the end of the match probably in prime time; then to satisfy the powerful American network Tennis Channel so that, given the time difference (9 hours less on the west coast, 6 on the east coast), the kickoff of this blockbuster is not given at dawn or even at middle of the night.
The trend therefore leans significantly towards a Djokovic-Alcaraz in the second game. But, if the Scandinavian confrontation between Casper Ruud and Holger Rune were to continue late into the night tonight, respect for the rest time between the quarter and the half would dictate the logic of continuity after these last three years.