Every spring since 1984, I have covered Roland Garros. The Les Internationaux de France de Tennis, Roland Garros, as the second major of the year is officially titled, began on Sunday, May 24th, this year, and will conclude on June 9th. It is my favorite of the Slams for an encyclopedic number of reasons. by MARK WINTERS
Simply stated, how could one not be enamored with a tournament held at Stade Roland Garros? It is the historic facility that was opened in 1928, and attending the event always includes enjoying the panache of being in Paris for a fortnight.
As most know, Michael Chang’s extraordinary triumph in 1989 was the first time a man from America had hoisted the La Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy since Tony Trabert held it high in 1955. Jim Courier put the US in the winner’s circle in back-to-back years, in 1991 and ’92, and Andre Agassi earned the coveted title in 1999. But, since then there has been a drought.
The women, specifically Serena Williams, have been an altogether different story. Having started to play in the LA84 Foundation/National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) Program at a strife-ridden park in Compton, she was the champion as recently as 2013. Saturday, she entered the rarified Round of 16, a step up from her last year’s drubbing in the second round that sent her back to the practice courts.
The weather often provides a “how to dress” challenge. At the beginning of the second week, rain has “spritzed” a bit, but the real issue has been the pre-blizzard blasts of wind. They have left me constantly reaching for another café crème to stay warm and wishing I had packed my thermals. (After all, I did grow up in Sherman Oaks, California.)
Once the day’s matches and my story developing are complete, there is a grandiose menu selection of places to dine. Fortunately, for me, my wife, Cheryl Jones, a feature writer for 10sBalls.com (and boasting, is a gourmet cook in her own right), provides knowing “Let’s eat here…” direction. Over the years, we have had an opportunity to taste and savor a variety of cuisine in each of the areas we have stayed.
Usually, we reside in the 16th arrondissement, the section of the city where the tournament is played. This year we are ensconced in the 15th and have found a number of tasty stop-off points for dinner. Topping the “not to be missed” list is “Napoletano Ristorante”, which has been honored as one of the best of the more than a thousand Italian Restaurants in this fabled gastronomically endowed city.
Over the years, we have been able to “discover” a wide-range of unique places to explore, and it has increased our grasp of the local culture. An even more important aspect of the adventuring is the wonderful collection of individuals we have met. Giovanni, who along with his two other brothers own three “Napoletano Ristorantes”, in Paris, is a case in point. He is as fluent as a UN translator, and he moves from patron to patron easily conversing in French, Italian or English. He could be easily slotted in a dictionary illustration, defining perfectly a personable and thoughtful host.
On our first night in town, we came across his place on Rue De Vaugirard and decided to give it a try. He greeted us warmly as we entered, and thus began another memorable episode of our travels. Giovanni comes from a big family and his credo is simply, “Treat everyone as if they are a relative or member of the family…” After we were seated, he discussed what was available that first evening; answering our questions about particular dishes and didn’t hesitate to make suggestions about the wine choices that were available. (He has an extraordinary cellar, and his Sicilian wines are award winners.)
In late May, Paris, annually, lives up to its deserved reputation of being the City of Light. Not only does the telling, testing tennis that we see daily support the soubriquet, but so do the unforgettable experiences away from the courts. We always add to that the cultivation of new friends that makes our memory scrapbook fuller.
Tennis is the reason we are here, but after today’s matches finally move forward following the showers, I must add that I am hopeful we both finish our work in time to enjoy another “Napoletano Ristorante” visit.
