Roland-Garros – No chronicle this Wednesday: At Roland, it’s impossible to work quietly

For the commentator that I am, this Roland-Garros is obviously special. But no less pleasant. Being dependent on the allocation of broadcasting rights, channels sometimes have to reinvent themselves and interaction with Digital sometimes allows them to stay on their favorite sport, without a cabin and without a helmet.

Volunteer to contribute to the work of the Eurosport.fr team and bring my little stone to the building, I was thus assigned two tasks: a daily podcast dealing with the news of the tournament and a free column dealing with each day of a theme of my choice. Stakhanovist Laurent Vergne (chef, yes chef!) Asked me to bring it a little offbeat, and I admit that this request did not displease me.

Anyway, with all that, it’s time I started writing this Wednesday column. Already find a topic. My neurons kick in, my brain boils, but it is endlessly caught up in this breathless first female quarterback between Tamara Zidansek and Paula Badosa. What a showdown between these two unexpected players at this stage of the competition.

A user told me a few days ago that he had bet on the final victory of the Slovenian even before the start of the tournament, and encouraged me to do the same. Besides the fact that as a journalist I am not allowed to bet, I would not have had this audacity anyway. And yet, it is the incredible 85th player in the world who climbs into the last four at the end of the suspense.

Roland-Garros, a place for impromptu encounters

Okay, what subject then? The surprise players in the semi-final Porte d’Auteuil? Nicole Provis in 1988? Vondrousova, Likhovtseva? I may have something there, but with the length of the first game, lunch time has passed and I’m going to go eat at the press restaurant to think about all that. One eye on Rybakina-Pavlyuchenkova, the other on my plate, I eat solo, it goes faster and here I am ready to return to the press room.

With the masks, we do not always recognize old acquaintances but there, no doubt, it is my two former classmates at the Practical Institute of Journalism who appeal to me. It is part of Roland’s pleasures, meeting his fellow tennis specialists, French or foreign, but also many others, with whom we make promises of “have a drink soon“, which, due to lack of time, are generally not kept.

Promo 1997, it makes memories to be remembered. Any news from such? And you saw such, what became of it? And do you remember when we arrived late for class and went through the back door to try not to be seen by the Director of Studies? These nostalgic moments are eminently nice, but the clock is ticking, and I wouldn’t want to find myself like the hero of After Hours, in full anguish. You have to be done before Tsitsipas-Medvedev begins.

Out of the TV area, there are only a few meters to cross to reach the brand new press center. I will finally be able to get to work.

• “Hello, I just wanted to let you know that I really like your comments … and so what are you doing here? And what are the next tournaments broadcast on Eurosport?”

How to dismiss this pleasant and benevolent viewer? A few minutes to answer him and here I am at the elevator. I’m on the right track.

Come on … Sophie Amiach (remember loyal readers, the first French player I saw playing on the courts at this stadium) wants to know more about her presence in my column last week, which I told her about. had briefly touched a word. She does not remember her Uruguayan partner, nor his nationality, nor even having played – and taken a set – at Pat Cash in mixed doubles. But that amuses him a lot!

Like the players, it is better to have a few “Roland” on the clock

This time it’s the right one! At work. Except that the second women’s quarter of the day is as tight as the first and it is not conceivable to miss the outcome. 9-7 on the third for my ex-table tennis partner. I’m happy for her but you really don’t have to hang around if I want to lay something for tomorrow …

When I took my computer out of its locker, I realized that I had forgotten an important element: to find an enclosed and silent place for the podcast, once is not customary in the Roland-Garros enclosure because it was recorded after the night session match. The task is not simple, in particular because of the sanitary rules. I use a joker: the phone call to a friend. Good game. In a few minutes, the problem is solved. The advantage also of having a few Roland-Garros on the clock. I just have to go get the key to an unused comment booth.

On the way back to my distracted school desk, I have the pleasure of meeting a former colleague – and nevertheless a friend – of Eurosport. Once again, it is difficult to fire a boy without further ado for having obtained the free loan of a Porsche for your marriage. Of course, we can explain to him the urgency of the moment, but when you are an incorrigible talker, it never takes ten seconds …

The Grail is near: after all these adventures, I will be able to write the first words of my column. On what theme, by the way? The time to put my ideas back in place, I consult my phone. Lots of messages in the Debated Land WhatsApp group. We have to prepare for tonight’s show. What debate? What statistic? What angry question?

I surrender, it is too much. To my dismay, I have to face the facts, it is too late. There will be no column this Wednesday.