Spectators on the Simonne-Mathieu, May 30, 2021. – AFP
At Roland-Garros,
A murmur in the distance first, the time to walk along Boulevard d’Auteuil to the sublime gate number 30, the one that leads to the Central. Then a sensory upheaval that hits us harder than a forehand slap from His Majesty Rafa. BUT IT WOULD NOT BE AN AMBIANCE OF MADNESS ON SHORT NUMBER NINE THERE? Absolutely Thierry. 11 o’clock in the morning and a tail of fifty meters long to see Enzo Couacaud play, the only Frenchman of the day to pass a tour.
We begin to approach a couple in their twenties, from Montpellier. Parental gift. Why come to stick to the herd when the sparse crowd (5,388 spectators at the climax of the day, a fifth of the usual gauge) invites to find a small intimate court at the back of the site to enjoy the view and the tennis?
The new armored vehicle for Couacaud
“Already because we don’t have tickets for a big court. And then it’s been a year since we’ve seen matches without an audience, we want to make noise and encourage a French player, even if we don’t know him more than that! “Inside, it’s been a while since we closed our eyes to this 35% gauge story, but as aware of this little happiness on Sunday, the lucky ones in the court neuf keep the mask on their noses without sniffing. while heckling poor Gerasimov, less at ease than on an ice rink in slippers.
First career victory for the young man of 26, born in Mauritius where we do not release many great tennis players. ” It was fantastic. Already playing again with the public, we all missed it. On the circuit, as a challenger, where I play most of the time, there is really no one. It is true that the atmosphere was unique, great. From the first point of the match, I had a bit of chills all over the place to have encouragement, singing, screaming. It was a really great moment ”. Nothing to do, indeed with us remembering sad and chilly October, when it was necessary to flush out the rare spectators present with the trowel.
The Chatrier a little deserted
There it is a good 24/25 in the sun, and the desire is strong to have fun at the ice bar on the central avenue. There is only on the Central precisely, where the atmosphere is a little dreary throughout the day. 1,000 people in an enclosure planned for 15,000, you have to get up early to believe it. No one really believes Thiem is going to fall out against Andujar, by the way, but when it does, the Spaniard celebrates the feat of a life of indifference. The place to be Sunday afternoon ? Le court Simonne-Mathieu or the French speak to the French. Burel, the fall sensation, is less aerial this year. In the process, Gillou makes Gillou. Three hours per game
despite a manifest inferiority. No big deal: “It’s been a long time since I felt so good.”
It must be said that he has a kop of madness behind him. Ten students with tricolor flags who have not drunk only grenadine and who are waiting for the showman of the day, aka Coco Moutet, the man who hits even less hard than Simon and who plays even longer than Simon. Clément and Cédric, caught on the fly: “Here we come to see Corentin because we know he is going to offer us a crazy scenario. How long did he play last year? 5 hours, 6 hours? And then we are even more privileged,
because the match is on Amazon and that no one looks apart from us ”. True, the happy few make a devil’s joke. ” Let’s go Moutet, let’s go “. “Who does not jump is not Moutet, yeah”. “A green mouse, which ran in the grass” [pas que de la grenadine on vous dit]. The winning of the second set even provokes a frenzied Marseillaise in the stands.
A Marseillaise for Moutet
It’s quieter on the seven, where the great French tennis family, including Paul-Henri Mathieu, the new high level manager, pushes behind Parry and his one-handed backhand jewel. “By advancing Diane, by advancing”. It is 8 pm and the referee resigns herself to the fateful announcement: “Ladies and gentlemen, I remind you that due to the curfew, the stadium gates will close at 8:45 pm, I invite you to make your arrangements and you go to the change of sides ”. The crowd collects without flinching, while Parry loses his footing.
A colleague tells us that a Belgian couple next to him was unaware. At 96 euros a ticket, it smacks of revered return to Namur. On the court of the Serres, our group of excited unplugged the hearing aid. It is 8:38 p.m., a tie-break is on the way, and whoever takes them out of their seats is not keen on his life. “We are waiting for the end of the set,” slice a supervisor wisely a few seats away. Fortunately, Moutet brought the temperature down by redacting the last three points. End of the fun. “Come on Corentin, you are going to get us this match”, launch a last cheeky while leaving. Well no. Eight out of nine French people eliminated on the first day. This business is still going well.