Kyle Edmund will have to finish off his first-round match at the French Open against Jeremy Chardy on Tuesday after play was suspended for bad light deep in the fifth set.
Edmund, who is trying to end a five-match losing streak, had twice led by a set only to be pegged back by French favourite Chardy in a lively atmosphere.
With the pair locked at 5-5 and the time ticking towards 9.30pm, the unpopular decision was made to stop the match for the night after five minutes short of four hours.
And after all that... play is suspended! 😱 Fading light means this thriller has been put on pause at two sets and five games each – we'll have to do it all over again in the morning 🎾 Three hours and 55 minutes in, who will come out on top tomorrow? #RG19 pic.twitter.com/zHp91V3hi1 — Team GB (@TeamGB) May 27, 2019
Edmund will serve first on Tuesday with the score at 7-6(1) 5-7 6-4 4-6 5-5. The French Open is now the only grand slam that does not have a tie-break in the deciding set.
The British number one had remained level-headed despite his poor run and he made a blistering start on Roland Garros' bullring Court One, which will be demolished after this tournament.
The Yorkshireman, who has reached the third round for the last two years, broke the Chardy serve to love in the opening game but was pegged back to 4-4 as the pair traded mighty forehands.
There was noisy support, obviously, for Chardy, who now lives in London, but the sizeable British contingent of fans also made themselves heard, making for a good atmosphere.
Edmund began to look a little tight but Chardy could not take advantage and the British number one raised his level again impressively in the tie-break, which he dominated.
Talk about a cliffhanger!@kyle8edmund vs. @jimchardy is suspended for the night with Edmund serving at 7-6(1), 5-7, 6-4, 4-6, 5-5. | #RG19 pic.twitter.com/FJ9IBndhtN — ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) May 27, 2019
He surged 4-1 ahead in the second set, too, only to lose a long game as Chardy hit back to make it 4-3. That changed the momentum and another break gave the Frenchman the chance to serve for it, which he took.
There was so little to choose between the two players, who have a similar style, and they continued to match power for power in the third set, with this time Edmund coming out on top.
But the British number one dropped his level in the fourth set to trail 5-1 and, although he mounted a comeback, it was not enough to prevent his opponent forcing a decider.
The light was fading and the noise ramping up as the players began that decider, but they still could not be separated and time was the eventual winner, much to the frustration of the crowd.
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