A postcard from Paris
And the Grand Slam that delivers a charming je ne sais quoi …
In the first of our Postcards series, Australian Tennis Magazine managing editor Vivienne Christie shares her experiences from Paris as Roland Garros gets underway.
Among all the features that set Roland Garros apart from its Grand Slam counterparts, the claycourt surface of course stands out most of all.
But it’s not until you’ve wandered down from Porte d’Auteuil metro station – perhaps fortified by an earlier pain au chocolat – and taken your first steps inside the picturesque venue that you truly appreciate the uniquely beautiful nature of the famed terre battue.
Cultivated to carpet-like perfection, it looks from courtside like a surface that shouldn’t even be walked on – let alone withstand the lightning-fast sliding and flashy court craft that this Slam demands.
And then there are the rituals born from the rich red dirt.
Even in non-competitive moments, the clay creates mesmerising visuals. The combing, the sweeping, the rainbows that sprout from its regular watering – it’s all part of the Roland Garros show.
When the clay creeps onto the shoes you’ve so carefully chosen for the most stylish of tournaments – and it will, those stray grains are everywhere – there’s no despair.
If, like me, you’ve waited more than a decade to attend Roland Garros in person, you can sport the red tinge with an element of pride.
And all the while, absorbing the other elements that make the Parisian Slam so unique.
The lone major still featuring lines officials, it’s also the only one where you’ll see umpires regularly spring from their chair to investigate a doubtful line call.
Using the marks on court rather than an electronic review system, it’s provided many passionate displays of emotion over the years.
And then there are the intricacies of the only non-English speaking Slam. The scoring is almost hypnotic – zero, quinze, trente, quarante and egalite are an elegant contrast to 15, 30, 40 and deuce – while the on-court video screens have delightful French flair.
Breakpoint becomes balle de break, set point balle de set and match point balle de match, with each of those moments accompanied by a crescendo of ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’ from an appreciative crowd.
For ambitious competitors, Roland Garros of course carries the same objectives and emotions of any Slam.
As women’s and men’s qualifying – or, in local terms, Qualifications Simple Dames and Qualifications Simple Messieurs – was completed, there were simultaneous celebrations and commiserations from those who had claimed a coveted main-draw ticket or others who’d just missed out.
Meanwhile, those already assured of entry put the finishing touches on their claycourt games. Novak Djokovic, preparing to practise with Daniil Medvedev, hugged Aryna Sabalenka as they crossed paths at the entry of Court Philippe Chatrier. And the three-time men’s champion was perhaps comparing memories as he chatted with Iga Swiatek, a winner of four women’s singles titles, later in the day.
Coco Gauff, the defending Roland Garros women’s champion, also took to the practice court, while Jannik Sinner returned to the setting that delivered an unforgettable final when Carlos Alcaraz recovered from a two-sets deficit and saved three championship points last year.
As droves of fans wander through the unmistakably Parisian venue – embellished by terracotta walkways and leafy gardens – there is an overwhelming sense of atmosphere and charm.
Music drifts around the grounds, fans queue patiently at the spectacular Le Grand Boutique and selfies are snapped at every turn.
There’s style, theatre and a distinctly French energy – plus the knowledge that, for any tennis lover, Roland Garros is a one-of-a-kind tournament to experience at least once.