It may not be the case in all of the grand slams, but particularly at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, if you’re dining in the area surrounding the stadium, you will more than likely bump into a player, their staff, or other journalists covering the tournament.
Whether you’re grabbing a bite at Wimbledon Village, or having a drink within the 16th arrondissement or Boulogne-Billancourt in Paris, it’s key to steer from tennis-related topics because odds are, the one person you’re talking about is sitting right behind you. Trust me, I learnt that the hard way. Luckily I’m experienced enough now to avoid any uncomfortable situations.
I was having dinner with a fellow journalist the other day at a quaint little restaurant a few blocks away from Roland Garros when we spotted Andy Murray’s team leaving. We turned our heads towards some tables inside and there was Murray, staying behind to take some pictures with some fans. On his way out, the waitress, who was obviously a fan, was too shy to ask him for a photo so he offered himself.
She said yes and asked him to wait for a few moments until she went to get her phone from inside. He happily obliged, standing so patiently and unassumingly by the bar until she returned with her cellphone.
They took the picture, he left and the waitress was over the moon and came to tell us how much of a fan she is. You couldn’t tell from his outbursts on court, but Murray really is a true gentleman.
Paris, Je T’aime
Meanwhile, Sloane Stephens love affair with the clay of Roland Garros continued as she smoothly overcame a tricky first round against Margarita Gasparyan.
Although most Americans aren’t too comfortable on clay, the French Open has been Stephens’ most consistent grand slam, as she has reached the fourth round for the past four consecutive years.
Maybe it’s roaming around the Champs-Elysees eating Haagen-Dazs (yes, I once caught her in the act), or maybe it’s something else, but for some reason, Stephens does well in Paris. She was asked about it in press and this was her response: “I don’t know. I love clay. I love this tournament. I love Paris. I don’t know. Maybe I’ve gotten some good draws. I don’t know. Just – I have no idea.”
Prompted to describe why she particular liked the clay here, she said with a laugh: “I don’t know. It’s red?”
If only it were that simple, Sloane!
With rain wreaking havoc with the schedule the past two days, players have been forced to be patient and wait around for hours, not knowing when they would step on court. Stephens has a special napping skill that seems to have helped her deal with the delays.
“I nap all the time. Like I fall asleep and I don’t know. I was asleep for like an hour today and didn’t realise. It’s unintentional,” she revealed.
“I travel with a blanket everywhere I can so I can nap wherever I go. Yeah, I have a blanket for airplanes and I have a blanket for like rainy days like today; I have a blanket for the hotel.”