French Open day 2 recap: new courts, new records, new controversies
Second day at the French Open 2019. After the victories of Roger Federer yesterday and Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic today, the tournament says goodbye to Caroline Wozniacki (eliminated) and Petra Kvitova (for an injury), but there are many stories and curiosities to talk about, besides what happens on the court.
Finally, Roland Garros has started a new revamp. The new Court Simonne Mathieu is a marvel of civil engineering and architecture. Able to accommodate 5,000 people, the new semi-underground stadium is dedicated to the memory of one of the greatest French tennis players of all time, as well as a war heroine. Surrounded by plants and greenhouses, it is a state-of-the-art facility.
The same will be the Court Philippe Chatrier. From 2020 it will have the new retractable roof (finally!), but even now its look has improved, with 15,000 seats for the crowd and a height close to 26 meters (previously they were 18). Meanwhile, the tournament sets a new record: with 34,610 entries, the attendance record for the first day, which had lasted since 2008, was broken.
Denis Shapovalov was the protagonist of a mishap. The Canadian suffered a burglary in the hotel where he had decided to stay in Paris, posting his disappointment with the hotel on Twitter. The Canadian would have been robbed of his bags while he was checking in, while his team would have been given wrong rooms.
About Twitter and former champions of Roland Garros. Through her account Ana Ivanovic has announced that she is about to become a mother again, posting an image that depicts a pair of extra shoes: "Our hearts are full of joy! We will add a new member to our family!"
We would like to close with Nicolas Mahut. The Frenchman wrote an incredible new page in his career; after the physical problems at his back, now at the number 252 of the ATP ranking and with 37 springs behind him, he beat Marco Cecchinato (clay-courts specialis) after losing the first two sets, on the new Court Simonne Mathieu, despite being himself to refuse the wild card offered by tournament organizers. A story to tell to posterity.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2WtGj9c
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