Novak Djokovic French Open win branded ‘unfair’ after roof debate with umpire

Rennae Stubbs has called out ‘nonsense’ during Novak Djokovic’s first-round victory (Picture: Getty)

Novak Djokovic’s French Open win over Mackenzie McDonald on Tuesday has been branded ‘unfair’ after it was interrupted by a roof debate.

Djokovic beat McDonald 6-3 6-3 6-3 in his first-round Roland-Garros match in which the Serbian briefly halted play due to his concerns over the wind.

The 38-year-old was locked in a tense exchange with the chair umpire and supervisor, urging them to swiftly close the roof on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

It was eventually closed later on after McDonald also made complaints about the wind, which was clearly impacting the clay surface in Paris.

But Rennae Stubbs, a former world No.1 in doubles, felt closing the roof during Djokovic’s win was ‘unfair’, posting on X: ‘If they’re still playing on the outside courts, you should still be playing on [Court Philippe-Chatrier].

‘Even if you have a roof, you cannot have preference for what [you] want. It’s not fair to everyone else and your opponent.

‘This is SO UNFAIR to every other player playing out there on the outside courts. Nonsense from the referee. He should say, too bad, [you] have to play [because] no one else is stopping outside. Yes the weather sucks, the wind sucks but I can tell [you], this is unfair for others.’

Novak Djokovic is hoping to land a historic 25th major title in Paris (Picture: Getty)

TNT Sports co-commentator Miles Maclagan said he would’ve been ‘pushing very hard to keep the roof open’ if he was in McDonald’s position after watching Djokovic’s first-set debate with the umpire and supervisor.

‘Djokovic is in discussion saying you’ve got a roof, maybe we could use it,’ Maclagan said.

‘If I am Mackenzie McDonald, on hearing that, I am pushing very hard to keep the roof open.’

Mackenzie McDonald himself later wanted the roof closed too (Picture: Getty)

But McDonald himself later wanted the roof closed and both players eventually got their wish with TNT Sports commentator Nick Mullins explaining how the wind was wreaking havoc with the red dirt.

‘It is the breeze flicking up bits of clay that is causing problems’, Mullins said. ‘There are some umbrellas going up as well at the moment.’

Cameron Norrie stuns Daniil Medvedev in five-set thriller

Cameron Norrie stunned Daniil Medvedev with an incredible win (Picture: Getty)

Elsewhere at the French Open on Tuesday, British star Cameron Norrie caused a massive upset by eliminating 11th-seed Daniil Medvedev.

Norrie, ranked world No.81, defeated the former world No.1 and 2021 US Open champion in a five-set thriller, winning 7-5 6-3 4-6 1-6 7-5 in Paris.

Medvedev was the overwhelming favourite heading into the clash but Norrie, 29, who enjoyed a career-high ranking of word No.8 three years ago, was at his very best to book his spot in the second round.

Daniil Medvedev was seen ‘freaking out’ during his loss to the British star (Picture: Getty)

The Russian became flustered and started chuntering towards his box during the first two sets – with Norrie admitting after the match that he enjoyed watching Medvedev ‘freaking out’ on Court Simonne-Mathieu.

‘Every time I played Daniil [before this match] he’s never, never snapped,’ Norrie said. ‘He’s never said anything. He’s just completely locked in and he chops me every time.

‘It was quite nice in the first set to see him kind of a little bit freaking out and talking to his box and trying to look for answers and solutions.

‘I felt I was winning a lot of the longer rallies. Against him it’s not easy to do. I thought I was troubling him with my game style and the way I was making it physical.’

Norrie will next face Argentine world No.144 Federico Agustin Gomez as he looks to reach the third round.

Meanwhile, there was also a brilliant first-round French Open win for fellow Brit Jacob Fearnley on Sunday, who defeated three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka in straight sets.

In the women’s singles, British No.1 Katie Boulter reached the French Open second round for the first time in her career by beating Carole Monnet.

Fellow Brits Emma Raducanu and Sonny Kartal also won their first-round matches, seeing off Wang Xinyu and Erika Andreeva respectively.