Roland Garros

Emotions run high on the opening day of the French Open

by Judith Prescott

Article published on the 2008-05-25 Latest update 2008-05-26 14:34 TU

Kuerten of Brazil
(Photo : Reuters)

Emerging from the Metro station next to the famous Roland Garros stadium, I am struck by how the weather forecasters have managed to get it wrong again. What should be a wet, thundery start to the French Open is in fact pleasantly sunny and warm. Perfect weather for tennis.

The good weather has brought the ticket touts out in force. They line the road to Roland Garros alternately holding signs saying 'tickets wanted' or 'tickets for sale'. I idly wonder why they don't all get together and come to some arrangement.

No such hassle for me. My press invitation firmly grasped in hand, I'm ushered like a VIP through the waiting crowd to the press room. There, are very friendly man gives me a press-pass resplendent with a photograph taken two years ago when I last covered this tournament.

Delighted to be wearing a pass with a more youthful, flattering photograph, the pleasure dims when I realise I am not going to be offered a 'Roland Garros 2008' T-shirt. The last one I had became an oft-used part of my wardrobe. I am only covering the event for two days this year and the organisers obviously thought I didn't deserve a T-shirt. Win some, lose some.

Some matches have already finished and the women's number 3 seed, Ana Ivanovic is safely through. I set out to watch the battle going on between the men's number 3 seed, Novak Djokovic and the unseeded German, Denis Gremelmayr.

Much to everyone's suprise, Gremelmayr is giving the big Serb a run for his money. He takes the first set and Djokovic struggles to take control of the match. His frustration shows when he throws his raquet to the ground after losing a point, drawing hisses and boos from the crowd.

Djokovic eventually triumphs and the two make way on the court for former champion, Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil and local boy, Paul-Henri Mathieu. It's an emotional match for Kuerten who has announced his retirement from the game and the crowd is packed with Brazilians shouting encouragement and waving the yellow and green Brazilian flag.

Mathieu takes the first two sets easily. In the third, the crowd goes wild with every point Kuerten wins. But it's not enough and the former French Open champion is forced to admit defeat. He waves a tearful farewell to the crowd who by now are on their feet, clapping and cheering as if he'd taken the title for a fourth time.

I wander through the Roland Garros studio for the final, live broadcast of the day. The walkways linking the courts are lined with stalls selling everything from fruit juice to sport's equipment and those elusive 'Roland Garros 2008' T-shirts. 

Strangely, a large number of people are walking around clutching enormous, bright green, tennis balls. Perhaps somewhere at Roland Garros there are hundreds of people wandering about with extremely large tennis raquets.

With thoughts like these, it's time to go. As I leave, the storm clouds are gathering, Maybe it will rain after all.

 

Judith Prescott