Roland Garros Diary: Cupid Roger, Producer Gael
Paris, France
Roger Federer shared a story where two of his fans wed.
Spoiler:
ROLAND GARROS 2013
Roland Garros Diary: Cupid Roger, Producer Gael
Paris, France
Roger Federer shared a story where two of his fans wed.
ATPWorldTour.com takes a look at the news and talking points at Roland Garros on the first Wednesday.
Federer The Matchmaker!
Roger Federer spoke about the importance of being a role model and revealed a story where a future couple met based on their common bond of being Federer fans.
“They were both fans of mine and ended up getting married,” said Federer. “I try to be a good role model, as good as I can be… I think it's very important that we are all very different and are ourselves.”
Producer Gael vs. Jester Ernests
Though they went toe-to-toe for four sets, Gael Monfils and Ernests Gulbis found time to lessen the tension through their colourful personalities. With the crowd going wild, Monfils, the eventual winner, asked the chair umpire for permission to record the atmosphere on his phone.
“I asked, ‘[Am] I allowed to tape the wave?’ He tell me, ‘Sure, you can.’ So I said, ‘Okay, I will tape it, like quick. No worries.’ (Laughter.),” shared Monfils.
Gulbis joked with Monfils about his luck after the Frenchman saved a break point in the third set by virtue of a net cord.
“I told him, ‘Please, [let’s play] this set without a net roll’, like he did in the set point. He laughed.”
Under Pressure
Having broken the Top 30 of the Emirates ATP Rankings and being seeded at his home Grand Slam, Benoit Paire admitted to feeling a greater sense of expectations after coming through his first-round match against Marcos Baghdatis.
Said Paire, “Several years ago, I was in the smaller room for this press conference, [with] three people asking me questions, and now [I’m] in the main room. I feel it. Pressure is put on me by the journalists. And I was on TV or radio for a while. Many TV channels are following me now. So that's something I feel.
“And also, in the past, I could walk around with my parents, watch a few matches. It's no longer the case. I couldn't do this except on Suzanne Lenglen because there is private access for us. But otherwise people now tend to recognise me. That's normal. I played well in a tournament like Rome, a big event, Therefore people are expecting a lot from you…They want me to go far. Does that mean more pressure on me? Yeah. But I will take it the way it is.”
Photo Of The Day
He may have lost to Marin Cilic, but Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios won young fans over by staying to sign autographs.
Pic: Getty Images
French Farewell?
Nicolas Mahut, most widely remembered for losing 70-68 in the fifth set to John Isner at Wimbledon in 2010, bowed out in his first-round match to Janko Tipsarevic and assessed the possibility that it was his final time playing at Roland Garros.
“When you're 22, 23, you never think about it. Last year when I was ranked 60th, I wasn't thinking about it. But now I'm finding myself 200th in the world ranks,” said Mahut. “Obviously, when you leave the court, you say to yourself, ‘well, maybe I won't be back next year.’ But when you leave a court after a defeat, obviously your mind goes to that.”
Comeback Of The Day
Four-time quarter-finalist Tommy Robredo found himself down two sets, but surged past Igor Sijsling 6-7(2), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the third round, where he will take on Monfils.
Roland Garros Diary: Cupid Roger, Producer Gael
Paris, France
Roger Federer shared a story where two of his fans wed.
ATPWorldTour.com takes a look at the news and talking points at Roland Garros on the first Wednesday.
Federer The Matchmaker!
Roger Federer spoke about the importance of being a role model and revealed a story where a future couple met based on their common bond of being Federer fans.
“They were both fans of mine and ended up getting married,” said Federer. “I try to be a good role model, as good as I can be… I think it's very important that we are all very different and are ourselves.”
Producer Gael vs. Jester Ernests
Though they went toe-to-toe for four sets, Gael Monfils and Ernests Gulbis found time to lessen the tension through their colourful personalities. With the crowd going wild, Monfils, the eventual winner, asked the chair umpire for permission to record the atmosphere on his phone.
“I asked, ‘[Am] I allowed to tape the wave?’ He tell me, ‘Sure, you can.’ So I said, ‘Okay, I will tape it, like quick. No worries.’ (Laughter.),” shared Monfils.
Gulbis joked with Monfils about his luck after the Frenchman saved a break point in the third set by virtue of a net cord.
“I told him, ‘Please, [let’s play] this set without a net roll’, like he did in the set point. He laughed.”
Under Pressure
Having broken the Top 30 of the Emirates ATP Rankings and being seeded at his home Grand Slam, Benoit Paire admitted to feeling a greater sense of expectations after coming through his first-round match against Marcos Baghdatis.
Said Paire, “Several years ago, I was in the smaller room for this press conference, [with] three people asking me questions, and now [I’m] in the main room. I feel it. Pressure is put on me by the journalists. And I was on TV or radio for a while. Many TV channels are following me now. So that's something I feel.
“And also, in the past, I could walk around with my parents, watch a few matches. It's no longer the case. I couldn't do this except on Suzanne Lenglen because there is private access for us. But otherwise people now tend to recognise me. That's normal. I played well in a tournament like Rome, a big event, Therefore people are expecting a lot from you…They want me to go far. Does that mean more pressure on me? Yeah. But I will take it the way it is.”
Photo Of The Day
He may have lost to Marin Cilic, but Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios won young fans over by staying to sign autographs.
Pic: Getty Images
French Farewell?
Nicolas Mahut, most widely remembered for losing 70-68 in the fifth set to John Isner at Wimbledon in 2010, bowed out in his first-round match to Janko Tipsarevic and assessed the possibility that it was his final time playing at Roland Garros.
“When you're 22, 23, you never think about it. Last year when I was ranked 60th, I wasn't thinking about it. But now I'm finding myself 200th in the world ranks,” said Mahut. “Obviously, when you leave the court, you say to yourself, ‘well, maybe I won't be back next year.’ But when you leave a court after a defeat, obviously your mind goes to that.”
Comeback Of The Day
Four-time quarter-finalist Tommy Robredo found himself down two sets, but surged past Igor Sijsling 6-7(2), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the third round, where he will take on Monfils.
3:1*
Brawo dla Paire za postawę, jak na dłoni widać cały drzemiący w nim potencjał 
