No 2 and no 4 seeds Alex Zverev and Grigor Dimitrov started RG last year a day before Nadal who was the no 1 seed and reigning champion.
The tournament moved to a Sunday start about 20 years ago. Because matches on clay are so interminably long, there was organizational and scheduling chaosand they had to allocate an extra day and allow for three days to complete the first round. Tournament protocol is the defending men’s champion opens his title defence on the opening Monday.
For somebody who professes to be some sort of clay court tennis expert, your lack of insight and knowledge of etiquette and protocol is quite startling.
You’re ignoring Djokovic calling the shots last night and getting the game moved.
The only reason Nadal and Federer played first was because tennis organisers look to give Federer every possible advantage on tour. It’s the worst kept secret in tennis and every dog on the street knows it.
I posted a host of articles about it earlier in response to you which you ignored as usual.
Nadal played his semi final second last year despite being both the no 1 seed and reigning champion.
If there’s anything you need to know about tennis then just ask I can help you learn a bit or two rather than embarrassing yourself.
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3 break points
3 break points Thiem. 
Thiem breaks
He snatches at the first but takes the second.
3-1 Thiem with Thiem to serve.
Why does Djokovic keeps coming to the net, he’s failing at it?
Federer is ruining your life the way Jurgen Klopp has. Why do you feel so threatened by a washed up, near 38 year old tennis geriatric?
Getting back to the handful of serious contenders to win this thing like Nadal, Djokovic and Thiem, you are still refusing to answer the question I have repeatedly asked. Why was there a breach of Grand Slam tennis protocol at Roland Garros this year which has resulted in the Number 1 seed (and his side of the draw) playing after the Number 2 seed all tournament, resulting in this fixture pile up for Djokovic and Thiem?
Why would I feel threatened by him? Nadal made mincemeat out of him once again yesterday.
I’m just commenting that he gets unbelievable favouritism which you always try and quell discussion of. It’s extremely well documented now and irrefutable.
You are shitting it because Nadal has got his 20 in his sights.
The protocol is that the seeds who start off first play their semi final first. Glad to educate you.
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You keep talking about Federer every time I ask the question, you are refusing to answer.
I’ll ask the question again and maybe you could answer it this time. Why was there a breach in protocol this year resulting in the Number 1 seed, Novak Djokovic and his side of the draw, playing after the Number 2 seed all tournament.
I’ve answered the question.
The only thing I have brought up re Federer is you completely ignoring the favouritism he gets in tennis. Why won’t you address the biggest elephant in the room of tennis? Is it because you are ok with the leg up Federer gets or the fact you know nothing about the sport?
Karma there
Play suspended again.
You haven’t answered the question. Protocol is that the Number 1 seed will play in the first semi final and a quarter final on the Tuesday, the day before the Number 2 seed quarter final on Wednesday.
Why have we arrived at the situation where Friday is the only day since Tuesday that the Number 2 seed will have played prior to the final on Sunday when the Number 1 seed (or as is looking likely now, his conquerer Thiem) ends up playing on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
I have answered the question and corrected you wrong assertions.
The side of the draw which starts the tournament first, plays their semi finals fist. That is the protocol.
You still haven’t addressed the favouritism of Federer, you still haven’t adressed Djokovic being shown favouritism last year.
Were you broaching this issue last year when Nadal, as no 1 seed and reigning champion had to play his semi final second?
Why did the highest remaining seed (Nadal) have to play his semi final second at Wimbledon last year?
The defending champion Roger Federer was Number 1 seed at the Champiomship last year. I’ve explained this to you any number of times now. Championship and Grand Slam protocol, the semi final in the top half of the draw (in which the Number 1 seed is sited at the start of the tournament) is scheduled to be played first. Federer lost to Kevin Andersen in the quarter final so Kevin Andersen retained the honour of playing in first semi final.
As our resident club member @Tassotti will tell you, they play with a straight bat at the All England Club. They wouldn’t do what you were advocating there, elbow Kevin Anderson aside to give preferential treatment to Nadal.