This Friday Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic offered spectators and viewers of Roland Garros an anthology match, won by the Serbian (3-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-2).
4:11 of play, an exceptional level of tennis and the public in the stands.
Clearly, all the ingredients for a Grand Slam semi-final between two of the greatest players in the history of tennis.
Yet this semi-final was marked by another event.
Indeed, after the 3rd set, the spectators were pleasantly surprised to learn that a special exemption had been granted to allow them to stay in the stands and follow the end of this match.
While since Wednesday, June 9, the curfew has been set at 11 p.m., the public should have started to leave the stadium around 10:45 p.m.
A special dispensation emanating from Matignon, the office of the Prime Minister.
"The event was authorized by Matignon at the request of the French Tennis Federation", explains Matignon this Saturday.
"It was an event organized with a strict and well respected health protocol".
Matignon also added that the match having ended at 11:20 p.m., the evacuation of the supporters would have taken time anyway and that the health risk was low.
