I decided to do something a little different
The French Open
Guess what! I’m in Paris. I turned on the TV and saw that the French Open Tennis was about to start, so I grabbed my whites and a pair of sunglasses and caught the first available plane to Paris, France. With the recession in full swing, getting a ticket was a breeze. Most of the people milling around at the airport were waiting for their Personal Loans to come through so they could pay for tickets to anywhere. I used my cash. Long flight, couple of good movies, nice wine and great air-hostesses, what more could I ask for? I was determined to make this Memorial Day one to remember!
In Paris
Paris is always great. Just being there, breathing the air, hearing the language and eating the food and drinking the wine are enough. Whenever I’m here I think again about selling in the U.S. and making a move. I would be more French than the Frenchmen. But then reality sets in. The language. I know a few words but when I use them in French company I get funny looks. Is it my American accent? I have a light lunch with half a bottle of Merlot and head for the courts.
Roland Garros
This is the center of the tennis world and at this moment the world’s greatest players are all here to battle it out for the honors. I look around and see that I am dressed rather unfashionably. I make tracks for La Boutique, the shop that sells the tennis stuff. Yikes, look at French prices! I bought a tee-shirt for 30 euros which is about $42 in real money and a cap which costs no less than $35. Ouch! But the stadium has no roof – it will have in 2 years time – and le sol is hot.
Le ticket
I knew I would have to pay to watch. The players earn stratospheric prize money and it has to come from somewhere. So I financed the day’s tennis by purchasing a ticket. Well, that’s what it felt like. It sure felt worth it though. The standard of play is unbelievable. To see a guy hit a moving ball with all his strength and put it on a spot the size of a bread-plate is awesome. It must be the result of hours and days and weeks and months and years of practicing the same shot over and over again until the hands are so numb they cannot grip the racket.
The players
They are all here. I’m sitting up at the top with my laptop, writing, I hope, highly saleable articles about the tennis and the stadium and the city – they will be priced in Euros, I’m a fast learner – and as I see the famous, so their names go into the article with my comments. Look at this line up for the first day: The reigning women’s champion Ana Ivanovic won her opening match, as did Andy Murray, Marat Safin and Lleyton Hewitt.
The champions
I can’t wait to see Rafael Nadal who is bidding for an historic fifth successive French Open and Roger Federer, who is still seeking a first Roland Garros crown to complete a career Grand Slam. But most of all I want to see Maria Sharapova, the world’s highest-paid and most recognizable sportswoman.
