Ihe first applause sounded ten minutes after the start of the matches. They came from an adjacent street. Four young people had managed to park their car close to Villa Primrose. A feat to be appreciated at its fair value. Unfortunately for them, none had a place for the BNP Paribas Primrose, the tickets having been torn off as soon as the set was known. “We played in the French championship at the weekend, in N2 and N3, they explain. We didn’t have time to deal with it. »
Ihe first applause sounded ten minutes after the start of the matches. They came from an adjacent street. Four young people had managed to park their car close to Villa Primrose. A feat to be appreciated at its fair value. Unfortunately for them, none had a place for the BNP Paribas Primrose, the tickets having been torn off as soon as the set was known. “We played in the French championship at the weekend, in N2 and N3, they explain. We didn’t have time to deal with it. »
The training sessions are shows in their own right, very instructive for players of all levels.
Guillaume Bonnaud/ “SOUTH WEST”
Murray vs. Struff
If access to the three competition courts is paying, the entrance to the site, on the other hand, is free. They were therefore able to observe with their expert eyes the training sessions taking place just in front of the villa. It was 10:45 a.m. They were lucky. On court 1, Dominic Thiem multiplied the exchanges with a sparring partner. On court 2, Jan-Lennard Struff and former world number one Andy Murray were perhaps taking cues for a possible final, since the German and the Briton are the first two seeds in this Challenger 175 “It’s violent guys, comments Philippe, ranked 0, which already imposes. I don’t think I would put one. »
Corentin, who is -4/6, confirms: “They put the gouache. They send. It plays tempered steel. “His remark, which concerned Thiem, is reminiscent of a defining moment in one of his Roland-Garros finals against Rafael Nadal, when the Austrian had unleashed a backhand of incredible power which had left the stadium dumbfounded. “I like being there more than in front of a match,” says the observer. His friends agree: “It’s crazy. Their prediction for the final victory leans more towards Murray. “But Struff has the best serve in the tournament. For Thiem, go in the afternoon. The winner of the US Open 2020 had Benoît Paire as his first opponent. A new grave, which brings back memories to Corentin: Kyrian Jacquet, against whom he played “at 13 and 14 years old”, qualified for the second round.
Yoann, supporter of Stan Wawrinka.
Guillaume Bonnaud/ “SOUTH WEST”
Everyone has their favorite
Also taking advantage of this rare proximity to the big names in this sport, Yoann displayed his tennis preferences. He wore the official sweatshirt of the Swiss team, on which there are two signatures in felt, those of Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka. But why expose them like this to the vagaries of the sky and the ravages of time. Her favorite outfit would be more out of place in a window. “I have others, autographed too,” he reassures. With seven comrades, he used to go and support the Swiss team during their Davis Cup meetings in Geneva. “Originally, we were fans of Federer, like many people in the world, then we became fans of Wawrinka,” he says. As soon as one or the other saw us at Roland-Garros, he made the effort to come see us to sign autographs. » Which Swiss canton is he from? “I am from Bordeaux. »
Théo likes the game and the personality of Benoît Paire.
Guillaume Bonnaud/ “SOUTH WEST”
“Benoît Paire gets out of the nails a bit, it feels good”
Another supporter is immediately identifiable. His name is Théo, from Bordeaux too. He hadn’t chosen his T-shirt by chance. On the back, an inscription: “Hors Paire”. His other favorite tennis player is Australian Nick Kyrgios. “Benoît Paire is extravagant, he appreciates. I like his style of play, his mood. It comes out of the nails a bit, it feels good. “But there are many other reasons to support the Villa Primrose licensee. The backhand and drop shots of the finalist of the Challenger 75 of Francavilla al Mare, Sunday May 14, are aesthetic pleasures that cannot pass in the background.
In the aisles of the BNP Paribas Primrose, you can also come across Régine and Jean-Philippe, regulars on the Challenger circuit and Interclubs, dressed in the colors of France from head to toe. “During the matches, we give advice to the players,” they confide. But short, so that it is not taken for coaching. »
When Benoît Paire won the first set against Dominic Thiem, or on the important points, there were dozens of Theos in the stands of the central court. He did not miss much in the Avignonnais, in any case not the encouragement of the public.
The places for the central court had quickly sold out after the announcement of the set
Guillaume Bonnaud/ “SOUTH WEST”
Nobleman
Sunday May 14, at the end of his first training session at Villa Primrose, which lasted two hours, Andy Murray delighted young and old alike by signing all the balls and all the notebooks handed to him by the countless hunters. autographs. The class.