PARIS: The decision to delay Roland Garros for a second successive year has saved “tens of millions of euros”, the head of the French Tennis Federation told AFP. The 2021 edition of the clay-court Grand Slam gets underway in Paris on Sunday, just seven months after the end of the 2020 tournament, which was pushed back from May/June to September/October. This year’s event is also starting a week later than normal in an effort to capitalise on the French government’s phased easing of Covid-19 restrictions. “Our little bet was a winner,” French Tennis Federation (FFT) director general Amelie Oudaa-Castera said. “Having to postpone for a week is really a winning choice, a beautiful tens of millions of euros saved.” In total, just over 5,000 spectators will be admitted at the Roland Garros site until June 8. That figure will go up to more than 13,000 a day later thanks to the government’s decision to raise fan numbers to a 65 percent limit of actual capacity. Read AlsoFew obstacles lie between Rafael Nadal and record 21st Grand Slam titleThe Mallorcan will turn 35 during the tournament but shows little sign of slowing down. By triumphing in Barcelona and Rome for a 12th and 10th time respectively, he won two of the four tournaments he had entered in the run-up to the French Open, where he has lifted the trophy 13 times already.”Had the tournament ended on June 6 (the original finishing date) and the following Wednesday the limits were raised, that would have been awful,” said Oudaa-Castera. The main setback for organisers this year is that nine of their scheduled 10 evening sessions — an innovation for 2021 — will be played behind closed doors. A government curfew of 9 pm will not be lifted until June 9. Oudaa-Castera admitted that the ideal scenario would have seen the 2021 event pushed back two weeks. However, the FFT insist they were mindful of the negative impact of the unilateral decision last year to delay the French Open by four months. “Basically, the decision was good last year but it created a debt towards the international community,” added the FFT chief. Read AlsoNaomi Osaka to boycott media at French Open ‘for mental health’Japan’s Naomi Osaka said on Wednesday that she will not take part in news conferences at the forthcoming French Open, believing that some post-match inquests are little more than “kicking a person while they’re down”.”This year, we had to take all the precautions and try to correct the terrible image that our federation had suffered by doing what was perceived as a well-played but selfish choice.” However, not everyone has been won over. On Wednesday, former doubles world number one Jamie Murray strongly criticised organisers for cutting prize money and labelled the official players’ hotel an “absolute toilet”. The 35-year-old Scot, the brother of former Wimbledon and US Open champion Andy Murray, is unhappy that prize money in doubles competitions has been slashed by 23 percent. Read AlsoJamie Murray blasts French Open over prize money cuts and ‘toilet’ hotelFormer doubles world number one Jamie Murray has strongly criticised French Open organisers for cutting prize money in his event and labelled the official players’ hotel an “absolute toilet”.Murray, who has won seven men’s and mixed doubles Grand Slam titles, said the FFT did not care about the players. “On top of twice moving their event dates to suit themselves, The @FFTennis continues their “we don’t give a ****” mentality by cutting the doubles prize fund by 23%,” Murray wrote on Twitter. “Thanks for actively supporting all players across the tour. Ps. Your official hotel for doubles players is absolute toilet.” Thanks for actively supporting all players across the tour. ? Ps. Your official hotel for doubles players is abso… https://t.co/Cz5DrrCVnk— Jamie Murray (@jamie_murray) 1621979777000