French Open 2016: Radwanska and Halep crash out

After play at the French Open was washed out entirely on Monday for the first time in 16 years, two of the top seeded women both exited the tournament within minutes of each other on Tuesday afternoon.

World number 2 and 2012 Wimbledon runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska was the first to go. The Polish player had treatment for an arm injury and lost 10 consecutive games on the way to a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 defeat to Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria, ranked 102 in the world.

Radwanska, who had re-started the match at 3-0 up in the second set, didn't hold back in criticizing the organisers after her fourth round loss.

"It's a Grand Slam. How can you allow players to play in the rain?" she said after the match. "I don't think they really care what we think. I think they care about other things."

Simona Halep struck a similar tone after she lost 7-6 (7-0) 6-3, also in the fourth round, to 2011 US Open champion Sam Stosur. The Romanian suggested organizers may be "scared" about completing the tournament on time, adding that the decisions made were "not the best." Roland Garros is the only grand slam venue without a retractable roof on at least one court.

The results mean five of the top eight women's seeds failed to make their allotted quarter-final spots

Big names made to wait

In the men's draw, Serbian Novak Djokovic - aiming to win the French Open for the first time - was frustrated by the weather in his efforts to progress from his fourth round tie with Roberto Bautista Agut.

The pair managed two hours of play across the entire afternoon and, after losing the first set 3-6, the Serb roared back to win the second 6-4 and lead 4-1 in the third before the rain came again.

The delays mean a whole host of matches have been postponed. Among those now scheduled to play on Wednesday are Briatin's Andy Murray and American sisters Serena and Venus Williams.

mp/REUTERS