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PARIS – Among the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the Ouverture de France has the smallest footprint on the floor, perhaps stature, and certainly in square feet. Surrounded by a triangular strip of land next to the Bois de Boulogne, the busy Roland-Garros corridors are often stifled by spectators heading for the next match or the next ham-butter sandwich.
This is still the case, even after Roland Garros has spread over a little over 7 hectares (the US Open is located on about 4 acres in Flushing, Queens). The added area comes from elegant new Simonne Mathieu Court, who opened this year next to a set of historic greenhouses, and two new courts at the opposite end of the field.
Even with the extra space, it can to feel congested. If it appears on TV that the stands are half empty, make sure the aisles are full. Average attendance first week 37,000 of the tournament, an increase of about 3,500 per day compared to the last years.
But in the midst of all the human traffic, one can find a few sanctuaries – some for fans, others for gamers and one for a colony of about half a million bees.
From one end of the field, the viewer can walk in front of many hidden treasures outside the famous clay courts. From the far western, sharp terrain, where Serena Williams recently practiced her service in relative isolation, up to the row of comfortable orange bean armchairs at the east end, where much of of this article was written in a glorious rest, Roland Garros is now about a kilometer long.
Court 15, where Williams practiced, is new. It is surrounded by black iron fences that meet in a restaurant located at the bottom of the field, and on each side of the traffic that passes to about ten meters. And when Williams was finished, she went down a staircase and out of sight, into a nearby tunnel that leads the players to the locker rooms, away from the hustle and bustle. That day, the vast majority of fans in the area focused on Court 14, where an overflowing crowd stood on tiptoe to witness Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert's victory over Daniil Medvedev in a five-man thriller. episodes. Two American tennis tourists have struggled to see higher.
The tallest, Nick Shanley, a real estate financier in Arlington, Virginia, presented his game-by-game report to his friend Chadd Sullo, sales manager in Milford, Connecticut, and former University player of the Sacred Heart University.
As busy as Court 14, it did not compare to the seven hives, each containing about 60,000 bees buzzing in the air at about 200 meters. The hives are nestled on a ledge adjacent to a trail along Suzanne Lenglen Court, the park's second largest stadium. A small set of stone stairs leads to an oasis – a beautiful hidden garden with a winding gravel path, not exceeding 15 meters long. In the end, the Villalonga bees probed shrubs and flowers.
Most of the 480,000 black bees are not seen by spectators or players.
"Fortunately, they do not like red clay," said Laurent Villalonga, a gardener and gardener since 1994 and head beekeeper at Roland Garros.
About four years ago, Mr. Villalonga said that his chiefs had asked him to create the colony to help preserve the biodiversity of the area and support the local bee population. He had no experience, but sought advice from a colleague. Now he produces honey, about 60 kg a year, that he puts in small jars with elegant Roland Garros labels and gives to his friends and colleagues. (Unfortunately, the delectable treat is not to sell.)
Villalonga cultivates seven wooden hives next to Lenglen and two others on the roof The village, a big building for sponsors and VPs last year, he said, the whole colony was wiped out by a mite infestation. It was overwhelming, but a new colony was quickly introduced and it is in full swing.
"I think it's a fantastic idea," Villalonga said, "as you can see on all the foliage around you."
Leaving the bees behind, one passes in front of Philippe Chatrier's main court and in front of the court that will soon be demolished, 1 known as the arena. The area where Court 1 is located will eventually become a lawn, which should help reduce some of the overcrowding.
Continuing eastward, we arrive at a distinctive Parisian landmark: a newsstand.
It is directed by Anne-Marie Schneider, a babysitter almost all year, and her husband, Marcel Schneider. Anne-Marie enjoys the festive atmosphere and international flavor of the French Open, as well as the relative calm of her place of residence, a shady spot in the shadow of the bullring. She sells newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times and L'Equipe, the best-selling French sports magazine.
Sometimes she has to hunt down a child who thinks the papers are free, but most of the time, her location gives her a respite from the crowd that is jostling in the rest of the field.
"I love it here," she says. "It's like a vacation for me."
From there, through a narrow passage, a visitor enters the most recent part of Roland-Garros. Down one Stone pathIn front of the centennial greenhouses of the Serres d'Auteuil garden on the left and the immaculate jute stone buildings on the right, botany enthusiasts can study many varieties of plants from five continents, with small plaques indicating their last names and of gender.
At which other Grand Slam do you see a Lagerstroemia Indica tree or a Tobira Pittosporum (a Japanese Cheesewood, of course)? Some of the plants were probably pollinated by Villalonga bees.
At the end of the road is the brilliant new Simonne Mathieu Court, designed to echo the old greenhouses. On the far side of the stadium, as far as one can be from Court 16 and remained on the ground, fluffy pouff chairs and a dozen rows of orange lounge chairs in front of a giant video screen relaying live matches.
Some sit and watch, others read and eat, and some even doze off.
But on the other side of a small mound with small trees, we discover the isolated finale gem of Roland Garros: a pastoral meadow of a half-acre called The Contemporary Garden, or contemporary garden, which has gained popularity over the tournament.
During the first days, Alexandra Panova, 71st World Player, is lying with her trainer, Tim Hoper, under the bright sun, then lies on the loungers in total isolation, until she reaches the end of the day. to that a pair of curious passers-by.
"I've never even seen this place before," said Panova. "He's perfect, but do not tell anyone."
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