A day at the red dirt tennis tournament

I awoke ready to go to Rolland-Garros to watch the best tennis players in the world play their and my game. But, it was too early to go so Gino and I took a walk over to the Tuileries, past the Louvre, over the Seine and through some of the Left Bank before returning to our neighborhood bakery for breakfast basics. On the way we passed by some impressive statuary in the Tuileries Garden framed against a pure blue sky. Nothing says Paris like park statuary.


We stopped as I took this photo of the biker with the Eiffel Tower behind him. We have yet to visit the tower, but it is on our to-do list.


Then we were off to visit the tennis tournament contested on red dirt not too far from here. We joined a huge crowd that usually gathers for Grand Slam tennis events. Our etickets passed muster and we got into court 2 in time to see Daniella Hantuchova (shown below serving) destroy her first round opponent, 6-1, 6-1.


Then we saw some of a four set match in which Robby Ginepri upset fellow American, Sam Querrey. They are both big hitters and it was an entertaining match.

Then the Williams sisters took the court and wiped out their opponents in two lopsided sets. Our vantage point was somewhat obstructed by other fans in the completely full stadium, but the photos shows some of the action. First is Venus during warm ups when she was hitting practice serves.


And Serena between points. They are seeded number one and have a good chance of winning the doubles title.


I have included some crowd shots of activities in the stadium. There are large TV screens in the areas outside the big stadiums. This one on Suzanne Lenglen stadium was airing the Andy Roddick match, which he won soon after the photo was taken in the fifth set. It was a close call for the best American man competitor.

A photo of one of the statues of the legendary French four Musketeers who ruled much of the tennis world in the 1920's and '30's. The area in the square was filled with people eating lunch and watching the action on the giant TV screen


It was a hot day and we were knackered by the time we left, but we have a rest day tomorrow, and perhaps some rain, before our Thursday tickets are of any use. Maybe we'll go see the Eiffel Tower tomorrow.