French Open: More rain gives suffering Djokovic shelter

Paris: World number one Novak Djokovic dropped the first set of his French Open last-16 clash against Roberto Bautista Agut before heavy rain came to his rescue Tuesday.

The top seed, chasing an elusive first title in Paris and a career Grand Slam, came onto Court Philippe Chatrier with light rain still falling.

Only 37 minutes of play was possible, but in that time the Serb star was broken three times while carving out two breaks of his own.

The 29-year-old will cross the $100 million career prize money barrier if he makes a 10th Roland Garros quarter-final.

But having lost the first set 6-3 in heavy, slow conditions, he was relieved to leave behind the ghostly show court at 1245 local time (1045GMT) where just a smattering of spectators, huddled beneath umbrellas, braved the miserable chill.

Tuesday's schedule had already been delayed by an hour after Monday's programme was washed away, the first such wipeout in 16 years.

Djokovic had a 4-0 career edge over 14th seed Bautista Agut going into Tuesday's match and won their last clash on clay in Madrid for the loss of just three games.

He had even broken serve in the first game Tuesday after an opening point played out over 30 strokes. Organisers announced that there would be no resumption of play until 1500 local time (1300GMT) at the earliest.

The heavy conditions were also playing into the hands of the underdogs elsewhere on Tuesday in last-16 ties.

On Court Suzanne Lenglen, Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria reeled off all six games played to overturn a 6-2, 3-0 deficit against second seed Agnieszka Radwanska in a match suspended on Sunday night. Pironkova took the second set 6-3 before play was halted 10 minutes before action on Chatrier was stopped.

On Court One, sixth-seeded Simona Halep was leading Samantha Stosur 5-3 on Sunday but the Australian roared back Tuesday to take the first set 7-6 (7/0). Stosur was 3-2 up with a break when play was halted.

Austrian hope Dominic Thiem was 5-2 ahead against Spain's Marcel Granollers on Court Two.

Later Tuesday, if conditions allow, defending women's champion Serena Williams will play Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the last-16.

Andy Murray, the second seed, was due to play his quarter-final against Richard Gasquet on Chatrier although that was likely to be put back until Wednesday.

In all, 12 singles matches -- 10 fourth round ties and two men's quarter-finals -- were due to be played Tuesday.

French Open organisers were also looking at taking another financial hit as rain continued to swamp Paris. Tournament director Guy Forget said that Monday's washout would lead to a loss of around two million euros.

However, with weather conditions set to improve from Wednesday, Forget was reluctant to suggest that the men's final would be pushed back to the third Monday.

"That's looking at the really dark scenario. We're not that bad yet," he said. "But eventually if they have to play two matches in a row, they will do it."

The men's final has only been played on the third Monday on two occasions -- in 1973 and 2012 when Rafael Nadal defeated Djokovic.

Roland Garros remains the only one of the four Grand Slam tournaments not to have a court with a roof. Philippe Chatrier will not have a roof until 2020 at the earliest.

"Hey @AustralianOpen can you send us one roof here to paris?! You have 3down there #fedexmakeithappenow," tweeted Czech star Tomas Berdych, one of the players still waiting to start his last-16 clash.