Tennis Buzz, the tennis community made by fans, for fans

24 May 2013

Heading to Roland Garros

tags2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, Fabrice Santoro, Ilie Nastase, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Marat Safin, Maria Sharapova, Novak Djokovic, Peter Lundgren, Rafael Nadal, rg2013, Roger Federer

Finally some live tennis! My first live tournament of the year!

My first memories of Roland Garros are from the early 80′s, watching Lendl, Wilander, Navratilova, and Evert battle on one of the 3 French TV channels. And of course like every French people, I remember Noah’s historic win over Wilander in 1983, his overwhelming joy and his run to embrace his father.
Leconte booed during the trophy presentation in 1988, Edberg heartbreaking defeat against Chang in 1989, Agassi flashy outfits, Graf-Seles breathtaking final in 1992, Guga samba tennis in 1997… Time flies.

May 2004: my first trip to Roland Garros. Agassi, Safin, Ferrero, the Williams sisters, I finally got to see some of the best tennis players I had watched for years on TV.

Marat Safin, 2004:

Fabrice Santoro and Peter Lundgren, 2004:

Juan Carlos Ferrero, 2004:

From then I was hooked, and Roland Garros 2004 was the first of many tournaments I’ve attended over the years: the US Open, the Queen’s, Bercy, the Lagardère Trophy, the Optima Open, the Open GDF Suez and of course Roland Garros (in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012).

Roger Federer, 2006:

Ilie Nastase, 2007:

Novak Djokovic, 2008:

Court Philippe Chatrier, 2010:

Rafael Nadal, 2011:

Maria Sharapova, 2012:

The excitement of the first tournaments slowly let place to a kind of “been there, done that” feeling, but there’s
nothing like watching a sporting event courtside. Not only can you see and hear everything as it happens, but you also really feel part of the event. Of course, you don’t get the benefit of all those fancy TV replays and close-ups but you avoid annoying commentary.
One of the best thing is court-hopping. Wandering around the grounds with a simple 24€ pass, you get to see as much or as little of the event as you want: watch Sharapova practicing on court 12, Hewitt playing on court 7 or a Goerges-Stosur doubles match on court 16.

I’ll be onsite the first week, covering the tournament for Tennis Buzz but also guest posting for Grand Slam Gal.

23 May 2013

Roland Garros 2013: adidas by Stella McCartney Barricade

CATEGORY French Open, Gear

tags2013, adidas, adidas by Stella McCartney barricade, Caroline Wozniacki, footwear, Laura Robson, Maria Kirilenko, rg2013, shoes, sneakers, Stella McCartney

adidas and Caroline Wozniacki introduce the all new adidas by Stella McCartney Barricade during the French Open.

The shoe will officially be launched at Wimbledon in June and will be worn throughout the tournament by all other adidas by Stella McCartney tennis ambassadors including Laura Robson and Maria Kirilenko.