4.6.12

Tennis



I used to be a regular visitor to the French Open – Roland Garros tournament, maybe - I must admit - more during the Björn Borg / /Mats Wilander/ Stefan Edberg years.

Since 2008, there in another, cheaper, way to watch the tournament; in front of the Paris Town Hall (see previous posts) a gigantic kind of tennis court offers chairs, tables, parasols … and a giant screen – all free of charge. It will all stay there until the end of the tournament, June 10.


Most people take the chance to watch, relax, get some suntan…


... but if you wish, you can of course measure your serve speed in a “smash corner”.

The reflection of the typical red court gives the Town Hall some pink colours. 
... and please note that there is a little extra post today, look further down!














19 comments:

Cheri said...

Love the post, I will admit when I was in college I got to see Bjorn Borg play Arthur Ash. That is telling my age. Great photos!

Anonymous said...

FINAL ROLAND GARROS 1979:
Björn Borg- Sweden
Victor Pecci-Paraguay

First time I heard about Roland Garros was at this time...

Beautiful photos!

Thank you,
Maria

P.S. They became great friends after this match. Borg came to Paraguay one last time to play with Pecci for old time´s sake 3 years ago at my club.

Studio at the Farm said...

Wonderful!!! Trust the Parisians to come up with such a civilized way to watch tennis!

French Girl in Seattle said...

Peter, how fun. This is the first time I have heard of this. I find it creative and... quite civilized. I would not be surprised if the Paris mayor, B. Delanoë, had thought this one up. He has detractors, but the man has shaken things up in the French capital over the last 10 years. Glad you got to go! Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

Cergie said...

C'est sympa, je voudrais bien voir ça sauf que je devrais me rendre à Paris et que je suis paresseuse en ce moment. Porte d'Auteuil, c'était aussi nouveau pour moi et je le dois à mon aîné qui a pris des places au Suzanne Lenglen via Internet.

This is Belgium said...

hey, let me be chauvinistic just one and say : hope everyone noticed our new and coming Belgian talent, David Goffin ? Bravo !
great photo's
anni

hpy said...

Comme je viens de dire à Cergie, c'est l'époque de l'année où on est envahi par le tennis, qu'on le veuille ou non.

Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.com said...

This is a combination of an appeal to the masses, and class.

Cezar and Léia said...

Wonderful pictures.I'm here also enjoying a lot watching Roland Garros games! Emotion!!!
Léia

Synne said...

This looks like fun! I like tennis!
By the way I just discovered your Musée d'Orsay post - delicious. I hated that I wasn't allowed to take pictures in there (I was naive enough to ask some guards, and no mercy, heehee). Thanks!

James said...

What a great idea! Looks like fun.

BLOGitse said...

This is a great idea to copy next to Havis Amanda :) but not too close to those office buildings! :)

Shionge said...

We would love to be there soaking in the atmosphere...every night we are watching the game...fantastic!!!!

Catherine said...

Yes I would watch it there....

Baglady said...

How very civilised - I'm impressed by the loungers. Great use of the space in front of the town hall.

Could do with some strawberries and a G&T, though!

lasiate said...

j'y suis devant ma télé ;)

Virginia said...

Well that's so much fun I'm pouting about not being Paris right now to sit in one of those cool chairs and watch the tournament! I hope you did for me Peter!.
V

Zoom said...

Ahhh, I wish I could be there too.. Lucky You)

arabesque said...

haven't been a tennis fanatic for years now, the last one i think was the Pete Sampras craze. way to passé already. ^0^

but for a free viewing?!
count me in, i'd def, be there!