May 27, 2010 | Category: French Open | No Comments »
FWOTD #5: jambon-beurre
I know this website is supposed to be dedicated to tennis, but it’s kinda impossible to talk about France without talking about food, right?
So today’s french word of the day is “jambon-beurre”. Le jambon-beurre (also called “parisien”) is the typical french sandwich. Simple but delicious: just ham, butter and baguette .
French people eat 830 millions jambon-beurre each year, that’s 2.2 millions a day. Bon appétit!
Tags: food, FWOTD
May 26, 2010 | Category: French Open | No Comments »
FWOTD #4: ENFANTS (Kids)
The first Wednesday of the French Open is tradionnally Kid’s Day. The stands and grounds of Roland Garros are full of kids running in the allées, cheering for their favorite players and chasing for autographs.
During the tournament there are plenty of activities for kids like mini-tennis and autograph signing sessions.
Tags: French Open, FWOTD, Roland Garros
May 25, 2010 | Category: French Open | No Comments »
Every day during the Roland Garros tournament, a new french word or expression related (or not) to Paris, tennis and Roland Garros.
FWOTD #3: la Tour Eiffel
Paris just wouldn’t be Paris without “la Tour Eiffel”. The tower was met with much criticism from the public when it was built. Many considered it an eyesore and wanted it pulled down, but today it is one of the world’s most visited monuments.
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Tags: FWOTD
May 24, 2010 | Category: French Open | 1 Comment »
FWOTD #2: TERRE BATTUE – Red clay
The surface is made up of natural clay covered with crushed brick as a fine surface dressing. This layer gives the ball extra grip when it hits the deck, making the surface characteristically slow.
But clay courts’ speed depends greatly on weather conditions: when there’s a bit of rain, the surface is moist, the balls pick up water, become heavy and slow down even more. But when it’s hot and sunny, the court is dusty, and the ball zip through like a harder surface.
Clay court maintenance demands the greatest care and constant humidity. Too much water risks drowning the clay, making it unplayable from a few hours to several days. That’s why the courts are sprinkled manually and have to be protected from rain.
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Tags: French Open, FWOTD, red clay, Roland Garros, terre battue
May 23, 2010 | Category: French Open | No Comments »
Every day during the Roland Garros tournament, a new french word or expression related (or not) to Paris, tennis and Roland Garros.
FWOTD #1: DIMANCHE (Sunday)
Since 2006, the final draw of the tournament has begun on a Sunday. So, Roland Garros is the “longest Slam”, being contested over 15 days (14 days Oz and US Open and 13 for Wimbledon).
Tags: French Open, FWOTD