“Obviously, the setting has a lot to do with it, even the main thing, but I know a lot of ATP tennis events that would dream of attracting more than 8,000 spectators for the semi-finals and the final…” A few hours before the curtain falls on Greenweez Paris Major, the “Grand Slam” of padel organized in the emblematic site of Roland-Garros, Arnaud Di Pasquale is already a satisfied tournament director.
While around 25,000 amateurs and curious people attended the birth of the event over the entire week in the heart of summer 2022, the organizers had to push the walls a little and open up for rental in recent days the high stands of the Philippe-Chatrier court (initially closed) to satisfy latecomers or spectators motivated by exceptional weather.
So exceptional, in fact, that the tournament preferred to shelter its Saturday afternoon under the retractable roof of the Central due to an orange vigilance during the heatwave… On Friday, the games on the blue carpet even had to be interrupted to cover the enclosure due to excessive heat!
In total, nearly 40,000 people will have passed through the stadium gates this week, with tickets whose price ranged from 10 to 25 euros depending on the day.
Jacques Brugnon would not have imagined watching over the pétanque courts at Place des Mousquetaires…
In the aisles, under a blazing sun, there is an atmosphere of summer tranquility which contrasts with the noisy frenzy of the fortnight on clay. Or the lively atmosphere of the previous evening, with the broadcast of the opening match of the Rugby World Cup between France and New Zealand on the giant screen attached to the Philippe-Chatrier court and the women’s quarters concluded at around 1 a.m.
Outside the stands, the life of the competition revolves around the Place des Mousquetaires. Sitting in the shade on the deckchairs of a teak terrace, Mathilde and Grégory enjoy their ice cream and this little holiday treat a few days after the start of the school year. “Friends came last year and found the experience very nice, enjoying the place,” explains this couple in their thirties from Yvelines. There is almost a little offbeat, timeless side to thinking that we are coming there in September. »
Not far from there, the most daring sweat it out playing Urban tennis, molkky, bag toss or pétanque under the impassive gaze of the statues of Lacoste, Brugnon, Borotra and Cochet. “It’s a real good moment of conviviality,” summarizes Thierry, present from the opening, with three practicing friends from the Paris region, to fully enjoy a day with programming spread out until the end of the evening. That pretty much sums up the spirit of this sport, which is above all based on the notion of pleasure. »
Footballers and rugby players under the spell
Big yellow ball in hand, Mathys does not despair of signing a few champions. “There is less crowding than in May,” smiles the teenager, who started hitting the ball with college friends at the end of 2022. And the players are obviously more ready. » The audience is younger than that of the Tennis Major and mainly from the Ile-de-France region.
Unlike last year, when the majority of Spanish tourists wandering around Paris seemed to have met towards the Porte d’Auteuil, we hear a little less the language of Cervantes in the aisles. But not on the slopes, of course, where Rafael Nadal’s compatriots make up more than 80% of the field.
“In 2021, we took advantage of our discovery of Paris to come and see Lebron and Galan win,” confide Alvaro, Javier and Esteban, originally from Barcelona, while queuing in front of one of the many food trucks placed in front of the courts, which give the whole thing has a little air of tavern. This time we blocked off our weekend specially. We’ve been players and fans for a long time but we have the impression that it’s starting to interest you. »
Everyone who dabbles in padel praises its addictive side. Starting with many athletes, retired or active. Zidane, Deschamps, Wiltord and Pirès are diligent players. Formula 1 drivers love it. During the week, some players from the French XV attended matches before their entry into the World Cup. During the preparation course in Capbreton, the Blues even inaugurated the new local slopes and some took advantage of moments off to challenge themselves in the glass and metal cage.
Saturday afternoon, former internationals Yoann Huguet and Vincent Clerc attended the show, as did ex-basketball players Florent Pietrus and Ronny Turiaf and former footballer Adil Rami. Last summer, Zizou himself (who owns several centers) stopped by the locker room to congratulate the winning pair.
For those who do not have time until this Sunday evening to see Roland-Garros from another angle, all hope is not lost. Before a world breaking final on October 21, the site will host a stage of the international… beach volleyball circuit from September 28 to October 1.
2023-09-10 08:46:00
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