French Open umpire saves pigeon as Ben Shelton left red-faced - What you missed on day 7

There was more waiting around at the French Open on Saturday as the rain continued to cause carnage. A downpour wasn’t on the forecast but the doubles matches bore the brunt once again, being cancelled and pushed back.

Under the roofs on the main show courts, Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka and Daniil Medvedev were among those who advanced to the second week. Scheduling chaos meant matches that started on Friday were moved around several times to finally finish before the players return Sunday.

And there were plenty of unusual moments that may have flown under the radar, including an umpire’s heroic efforts to help a pigeon and Ben Shelton’s walk-on mix-up. Express Sport takes a look at five things you missed on day seven of the French Open.

Umpire steps in to save pigeon

It appears that the pigeons in Paris have made Court Suzanne-Lenglen their home this week. One spooked Dan Evans on Tuesday as it swooped onto the court. Another met its untimely fate during Stefanos Tsitsipas’ match and court attendants had to clear away a dead bird that hit the roof. French umpire Damien Dumusois ensured that the same didn’t happen to another pigeon that swooped into Lenglen while the roof was closed, chasing it and grabbing it in a towel before it was safely taken away.

“I saw that. I think he was a little bit struggling. I don't know what happened,” Machac smiled, discussing the incident. “But you need to focus. You can't try to watch that. But, you know, it's tough, but I tried to focus.”

Shelton’s walk-on blunder

Ben Shelton was left red-faced as he returned to complete his third-round match against Felix Auger-Aliassime after it was suspended for rain on Friday night with the Canadian leading 5-4. There was a mix-up as Shelton attempted to walk onto Court Suzanne-Lenglen, not realising his opponent was meant to go first.

Auger-Aliassime stuck his head around to try and tell him but it was too late. Shelton laughed sheepishly as he turned around and came straight back, and the world No. 21 stepped out first as planned. Auger-Aliassime went on to win 6-4 6-2 6-1.

Sabalenka’s bizarre ritual continues

Aryna Sabalenka signed her fitness trainer’s bald head before all of her matches at the Australian Open and won the title. Earlier in the week, she confirmed that she had done it again in Paris. And Jason Stacy was spotted with marker on his head again as Sabalenka defeated her “best friend” Paula Badosa in straight sets.

“We like to do weird stuff, you know. Somehow it started, and then I won the tournament, and I was, like, Jason, we got to keep tradition going, you know,” the world No. 2 laughed. “I wanted to do it on every tournament, every match, but he was just like, Okay, let's just at least pick this tradition for the Grand Slams. So far we are doing it.”