Roland Garros 2009

Contemplative Friday

by Paul Myers

Article published on the 2009-06-05 Latest update 2009-06-05 14:35 TU

Defending champion Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after losing to Robin Soderling of Sweden.
(Photo: Reuters)

There’s almost nothing that the blog won’t do to highlight the hue and cry of the tournament.

We’ve been preemptive – as in the conversation with the  Portuguese teenager Michelle Larcher de Brito.

We were also educative – suggesting to Ms de Brito that losing the first set wasn’t a great tactic.

But Friday finds the blog in contemplative mode.

Just how far should we go to savour the full extent of the facilities at Roland Garros ?

We went dutifully to the Buzet wine tasting evening. We’ve even had a couple of massages laid on by sponsors BNP Paribas and then there was the tapas evening to promote the goodies from the Balearic Islands.

However there was an air of sobriety about the whole thing. That’s because the main course – so to speak – was absent.

Rafael Nadal, world number one, Roland Garros top seed, winner of the event for four years on the trot and most important Balearic born and bred had eloped with his racquets back to his home in the zone.

It’s the first time in four years that the Manacor Matador – you’e got love the attractive alliteration - wouldn’t be spending his birthday in Paris.

Even still the organisers could have been a bit less perfunctory about their event. True the wine was good and the snacks were palatable but where was the local saying come stay, come play with us on our wonderful islands?

But then the hosts might have been paying homage to their departed hero by recreating the ambiance of his last final in Paris in 2008 when young Rafa was in a seemingly discourteous haste to win the cup and get back to Manacor with his cheque for one million euros.

The French have no more representatives left in the tournament but the diner de la presse was underwritten by the wine houses of Bordeaux.

Last year I think it was Chablis. I say ‘I think’ because in my last visit to the diner, I did a little too much investigating of this fine wine and putting together consecutive thoughts the next morning was very painful.

I’m pretty sure I didn’t disgrace myself the previous night but then again we’ve all had to sign a code of conduct this year.

I avoided the Bordeaux extravaganza in the interests of a peaceful head.

I thought about attending and taking it easy (just the 44 litres then) but what’s the point of going and not partaking of a selection of mightily wonderful wines?

It’s a bit like inviting a load of people and then appearing like you want to get rid of them.

Hardly logical. In fact it’s a load of Balearics.

l