By Bill Simons
THE BUZZ: A SIX-PACK OF BUD AND OTHER NOTES FROM THE FRONT
WHAT HAS MORE HOPS THEN THEN A SIX-PACK OF BUD?: The bouncy Marion Bartoli.
THE REASON IS RED: After enduring a 0-5 losing streak on clay in America, Jack Sock came to Europe, where he’s won four straight matches. Asked why, he said, “The clay is red.”
PLENTY OF POPPY COPY: There’s been plenty of poppy copy recently on the tour. Yesterday, Maria Sharapova dissed her dad, saying that she only Skyped him when she wanted to see her dog. Today, Marion Bartoli offered one of the tournament’s more obvious insights when she said, “I’m somebody who’s quite emotive, if you like.” She then went into all the details of her merry-go-round coaching experiments over the past few months—a series of one-tournament trials with different coaches—and her separation and eventual reunion with her dad, Walter. Aussie Bernard Tomic, who withdrew midway through his first-round match, began his press conference by announcing that he would not talk about the tumultuous free-fall of his problematic father, John, who is now facing assault charges after an incident in Madrid. Though his dad was banned from attending matches by the ATP and the French Open, Tomic countered, “He’s here right now in Paris, so he’s still working with me. He’s still my dad, he’s still my coach, and, you know, I love him a lot.”
WHO YA GONNA CALL?: The Dow Jones surged over 200 points today. So who on the pro circuit or in the media is the best to call for an investment tip? How about Brad Gilbert?
COMPARING KIDS: Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day—the youth tennis festival just before the US Open – is a fun celebration. But there is nothing quite like kids’ day each year at the French Open, where school children watch real matches and infuse the atmosphere with zany enthusiasm and unbridled energy.
WORST PLACE FOR A RAIN DELAY: It’s said that the French Open is the worst of the Grand Slam venues to wait out a rain delay. Not only are there no roofs (yet), but there is nothing to do on the grounds, and the hallways and walkways get crammed with umbrella-toting Frenchmen.
KOBE TALKS TURKEY, AND THAT’S NO (ISTAN)BULL: Kobe Bryant—at least in Europe—is a spokesperson for Turkish Airlines.
HEADLINE OF THE DAY: “Gael Force Dismisses Berdych” (after Gael Monfils upset No. 5 Tomas Berdych).
IT COULDN’T BE THAT HOBBLING OF AN INJURY: After withdrawing from his first-round match due to a hamstring injury, Bernard Tomic stayed around to sign autographs.
PAPARAZZI ARE PEOPLE TOO: Probing paparazzi caught up with Grigor Dimitrov and his girlfriend Maria Sharapova as they kissed recently in Madrid, so reporters were ready for sparks to fly when a Russian writer asked the Bulgarian what he thought about the shutterbugs. But Dimitrov was kind, saying, “Well, they’ve got to live, right?”
MOST SUCCINCT ANALYSIS OF THE DAY: After Marion Bartoli double-faulted while having match point, a voice in the press room noted, “It’s quite the trend these days.”
REST IN PEACE: Jack Sock wore the initials of two young friends—Alex Rovello and Brian Boyd—on his shoes. The 21-year-olds died recently in separate tragic accidents.
SOMEWHERE A THOUSAND TOUR LEADERS ARE WEEPING: Asked what was most interesting to him about France, Jack Sock said, “There’s nothing on TV at the hotel. There’s nothing to watch.”
BATTLE OF THE NICKNAMES: Novak Djokovic is known as the Serbinator. Jack Sock’s nicknames are J. Sizzle and Showtime.
PETER PAN SYNDROME: While commentating on the match between Novak Djokovic and David Goffin, who has the sweetest baby face in the game, Eurosport TV contended that the Belgian’s favorite movie has to be Peter Pan.
SAY WHAT?: Reflecting on Djokovic’s chances against Goffin, Roland Garros Radio said the Serb is “going to be overwhelming, or at least ‘whelming.’”
