PARIS, June 5, 2019 (by Michael Dickens)

Defending French Open champion Simona Halep is three wins from successfully defending her title. However, if she is to win her second Grand Slam crown, she will have to do it over three consecutive days.

When Halep arrived at Roland Garros on Wednesday, she expected to play her quarterfinal-round match against American teenager Amanda Anisimova on Court Philippe Chatrier beginning at 2 p.m. Instead, it was raining steadily at match time and a tarp covered the main show court and all other courts at Stade Roland Garros. After waiting 2 1/2 hours without any improvement in the forecast – and with further rain expected for the remainder of daylight hours – tournament organizers finally called off play for the day and sent everyone home. Wednesday’s postponed matches have been rescheduled for Thursday.

What it means for Halep and Anisimova as well for the other women’s quarterfinalists, No. 8 seed Ashleigh Barty and No. 14 seed Madison Keys, who were scheduled to play on Court Suzanne Lenglen on Wednesday, is they will now have to play on consecutive days if they win with no days off as the women’s semifinals will be pushed back to Friday. The women’s final remains unchanged and is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, two scheduled men’s quarterfinal matches – between World No. 1 and top seed Novak Djokovic and No. 5 seed Alexander Zverev (on Chatrier), and No. 4 seed Dominic Thiem against No. 10 seed Karen Khachanov (on Lenglen) – were also postponed Wednesday and rescheduled for Thursday. The men’s semifinals are scheduled for Friday and the final on Sunday afternoon.

Thursday’s order of play will include both women’s quarterfinal matches, beginning at noon (Halep-Anisimova on Chatrier and Keys-Barty on Lenglen), followed by the men’s quarterfinal matches not before 2:30 p.m.

In a statement released by the French Tennis Federation (FFT) on rolandgarros.com, the tournament’s official website, it stated:

“We regret to announce that, due to poor weather conditions, no more matches will be played today (Wednesday 5 June) at Roland Garros.

“Tickets for this day will be fully refunded by the FFT.

“For more information regarding refunds, please see the Roland Garros ticketing website.

“Tournament organisers have also decided that spectators with tickets dated 5 June 2019 will be able to access Roland-Garros free of charge tomorrow (upon presentation of a valid ticket for 5 June 2019.)

“They will be able to attend matches on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, subject to seating availability, as well as on outside courts, without losing their right to a refund.”

Next year, there will be a roof over Court Philipp Chatrier. However, it couldn’t come soon enough for Wednesday.

What they’re tweeting

David Law, co-host of The Tennis Podcast: “Good move by the French Open organisers to call the day’s play to an end early.

“Put everyone out of their misery and come back fresh tomorrow. All semifinals now on Friday. #RG19“

Thursday’s order of play

Court Philippe Chatrier / from Noon

Women’s singles quarterfinal
No. 3 Simona Halep vs. Amanda Anisimova
Men’s singles quarterfinal (not before 2:30 p.m.)
No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 5 Alexander Zverev
Men’s doubles semifinal
Jeremy Chardy/Fabrice Martin vs. No. 3 Juan Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farrah

Court Suzanne Lenglen / from Noon

Women’s singles quarterfinal
No. 14 Madison Keys vs. No. 8 Ashleigh Barty
Men’s singles quarterfinal (not before 2:30 p.m.)
No. 4 Dominic Thiem vs. No. 10 Karen Khachanov
Men’s doubles semifinal
Kevin Krawietz/Andreas Mies vs. Guido Pella/Diego Schwartzman