05/06 - Roland-Garros : "The year of the Bac"

SPORTS / TENNIS : ROLAND-GARROS / "Un Autre Regard" by Philippe Delerm / 05/06 - Roland-Garros : "The year of the Bac"

Last week of May, first week of June. In the high schools, the freshmen, sophmores and juniors are almost on vacation. For everyone else there's the baccalaureate, the big final test, but the rhythm of the coursework has changed. Between intense bouts of studying you can feel a slight breeze of freedom, you can smell summer – but you also feel a lot of stress. Sitting on stairways, on a patch of grass, talking about the future to stir up bad luck. Falling in love….Somewhere, in a recreation room, in a classroom, a TV is on, blessed with the permission by a school official. The French Open. Sitting on tables, the fans are silent. Occasionally an ignorant face appears in the doorway: “Who’s winning? Nadal? I’ll bet you he won’t make it past the first week. Djokovic’s gonna destroy him.”A condescending shrug of shoulders greets any prognosis based on such faulty science. Without looking away from the screen someone finally comes out with something cruel: “They’re not on the same side of the board, dumbass!”Miffed, the intruder tries to save face before making an exit: “You’re not going to stay locked inside there on such a nice day, are you?”Well, yes. They’re staying locked inside. The French Open is that important, even in the Year of the Bac. In Roland Garros stadium the players are facing their destiny. There are tie-breaks, and it sometimes comes down to very little. Sometimes a little luck is required here, too. And some players will be sent back. – Philippe Delerm