06/06 - Roland-Garros : "Lovely hat, madam"

SPORTS / TENNIS : ROLAND-GARROS / "Un Autre Regard" by Philippe Delerm / 06/06 - Roland-Garros : "Lovely hat, madam"

The "Lovely hat, madam" was, until the beginning of the 2000s, Michel Dhrey's signature contribution to the French Open. While the players were changing sides, the TV cameras scoured the boxes and the stands, lingering on the most attractive female faces. It was a far cry from the epileptic reaction shot of the football fan who sees himself on the giant stadium screen and immediately starts pummeling his neighbor ("Look there we are! We're on TV!).No, the young woman in Roland Garros stadium pretends, for a few moments, not to notice the attentions of the camera lens. When the camera becomes too obvious she responds with a slight smile, which may look a bit forced if she's accustomed to being praised for her beauty or may look more genuine if she's genuinely surprised by the attention.The slight downtime wasn't systematically taken up by ad spots or public information announcements. Michel Dhrey had the time to pause his play-by-play conversation with Jean-Paul Loth. He would talk about the weather (hot), note the presence of the Jean-Paul Belmondos, the Patrick Bruels, and the Pierre Richards faithfully installed around centre court. But I would say Michel Dhrey's supreme moment of joy came when, upon seeing a woman appear before him on his TV monitor, he could let fly with a soave and respectful, "Lovely hat, madam!" We basked in a gallantry that already seemed a bit behind-the-times but which also seemed a perfect fit with the world of tennis. The beautiful people watch the proceedings, the commentator admires from a polite distance.Lovely hat, madam. — Philippe Delerm