Post by Choupi on Mar 6, 2005 6:06:59 GMT -5
I've had the incredible chance to be in the stands for the doubles match of this 1st round DC 05 between France and Sweden. Here's my report. The pics will come later...
I won't forget that day of March 05 that soon...because it has been such a great day for me, and on many different levels. From the moment I opened the shutters in the morning, I knew it would gonna be a good day. And the succession of happy circumstances hasn't contradicted my intimate feeling.
First, we had been announced a big snow alert for the previous night. All Europe had been under that snow storm alert for the whole week. And I must admit I was kinda worried when I went to bed on the evening before...I couldn't sleep very well. And I even fell out of bed at such an early time that even my cat looked at me as if I was insane...When I opened the shutters, I saw that we had had some snow but not as much as it had been forecast. And temps were rising towards the positive rather fast. So that was a good sign for me.
Second, I was going to Strasbourg with some friends. And we were absolutely ignoring where the Rhenus Hall was situated. Of course, we were thinking that we would have trouble finding the site, so we have left very early in the morning to take that delay into account. But we have found very easily...And when we arrived at the Hall, security men were a bit loose on their job and they haven't stopped us from parking on the VIP car park...I even doubt they saw us enter there! It was so much closer to the Hall. And we were expecting to meet some interesting ppl there. But no chance I must recognize. We have stayed in the car for about 1 hour, eating our sandwiches, totally frozen...as the Hall was unaccessible to the public at that so early time.
Third, when we finally could enter the place, we went straight to the seats we had been attributed and what a surprise to notice that we were really well placed. And we even have been proposed to move some places by a nice guy, who happened to have the seat right in the middle between my friends and me. Very kind of him. I later realized that his gesture wasn't for free...But he's been disappointed. He wasted his one and only chance when his phone rang in the middle of the game. The match wasn't about to begin but commentators from French tv have entered the Hall, just in front of our seats. And they have started commenting on the atmosphere. And we were so glad because one the 2 commentators was Arnaud Boetsch. He kept on waving in our direction, each time we were making noise to accompany their comments. And when players have entered the court, they have gone into the press room which was situated right in our back. So you can imagine how well placed we were. We had the same view the tv commentators had. You'll see on the pics, as all pics from the matches have been taken from my seat. And I was so glad that security men couldn't find my camera in my bag...I knew they would take it from me if they happened to find it. So I had put so much stuff in my bag to make it the messier that they gave up without even wanting to search for something when they asked me to open it....
Some words about the general atmosphere....Picture this. A Hall generally welcoming basketball matches, with 6000 ppl inside. On these 6000, there were maybe 35 for Sweden...Imagine! The French team wasn't favourite on the paper for this doubles match. So we were firmly determined to help our Frenchies the best way we could. And we did. My hands were painfull because of those cheer sticks I haven't stopped clapping for the whole match. And my voice didn't resist long...I was kinda sad for those poor Swedish supporters who have had such a hard time making them hearable...but they did their best!
Players have entered the court. And the official presentation has been made. The one who has been the most applauded was....Mats Wilander. Which I find so logical, given his legendary past as a player. Then, national anthems have been played. And yes, our Frenchies have sung it aloud, alltogether. You'll see the pic. After that, the speaker has asked for a minute of silence, in respectfull memory of the Tsunami victims. That moment was the most moving of the whole day. Even more than the win of my Frenchies...
Players have started practising...and I couldn't stop looking at Wilander, with his cap. He was wearing a cap representing the Swedish flag. He didn't have any during the first day. He was so funny with it! But the Hall being really warm, he hasn't stopped taking it off because he was sweating too much...
The match in itself, well, it's been really close. The 1st set was what I would call a warm-up. Every player was searching for his marks...and what was expectable happened. Arnaud not being known to have a great serve, showed much difficulty to win it each time it was his turn. At 4/4, Sweden broke. Causing some panic in the crowd, bringing even more noise during the following game. Don't know if that helped but France broke back straight afterwards. Naturally leading to a tie-break, won by France.
The 2nd set has seen quite the same scenario, except that the beak-rebreak has happened earlier. And Arnaud gained so much in confidence that he became rather the only one you could see on the court. Mika was encouraged by this rebellion and made some incredible returns....It was nevertheless really tight, as Martin and Jonas have such a wonderfull cover of the net. And both have a great serve, usually above 200 kms.Anyway, 2nd set for France, 6/4.
The 3rd set has been identical on the scheme of breaks...Sweden 1st, immediately broken back by France. But this time, the tie-break has been different. French players have shown some tiredness in making some shots totally unappropriate. And Swedish took advantage of it. Mats couldn't stay on the bench. He was on the court, clapping his hands, yelling at his players...Guy was nervous too but was silent. He kept on biting his nails...I'm sure that with all he has bitten, he'll have to attack his toes on the Sunday....Incredible atmosphere, incredible shots and 3rd set for Sweden. I must admit I was secretly wishing Sweden to win this 3rd set. Because I wanted this match to go on as long as possible...
Right after the win of the 3rd set, Simon has called for the doctor. He was suffering cramps in his right calf. They had been playing for 2.45 hours. And the match had been so tight...
At 2/1 for France, on the Swedish serve, there has been a strong contestation movement on the game point. Sweden was 40/30. And the ball had been announced out. Commentators have alerted Guillaume Raoux, who told Forget that the ball was good. And of course, it was. We were right in the axe of the line and we have seen the ball perfectly whiten the line. It's not so the fact that the point was contested that was the main pb. But when the umpire went to check the mark, he showed another one! The public and the French players were totally mad. Forget has tried to discuss but in vain. He kept on saying that tv had replayed the point and that it was good, he refused to replay the point and maintained the game for Sweden. Arnaud was so mad that I even thought he was about to hit the umpire...Guy has had big trouble keeping him within reasonable limits...Anyway, the game started again...with a detestable atmosphere this time. And I admit I found it absurd. Because each ball which was out for the Swedish players has been booed...but they were not responsible for the umpire's decision. And this stupid behaviour lasted for about 2 games. Yet, the contestation has given Mika and Arnaud even more will to fight and they have finally won the match after breaking Sweden for the last time at 5/4.
I won't forget that day of March 05 that soon...because it has been such a great day for me, and on many different levels. From the moment I opened the shutters in the morning, I knew it would gonna be a good day. And the succession of happy circumstances hasn't contradicted my intimate feeling.
First, we had been announced a big snow alert for the previous night. All Europe had been under that snow storm alert for the whole week. And I must admit I was kinda worried when I went to bed on the evening before...I couldn't sleep very well. And I even fell out of bed at such an early time that even my cat looked at me as if I was insane...When I opened the shutters, I saw that we had had some snow but not as much as it had been forecast. And temps were rising towards the positive rather fast. So that was a good sign for me.
Second, I was going to Strasbourg with some friends. And we were absolutely ignoring where the Rhenus Hall was situated. Of course, we were thinking that we would have trouble finding the site, so we have left very early in the morning to take that delay into account. But we have found very easily...And when we arrived at the Hall, security men were a bit loose on their job and they haven't stopped us from parking on the VIP car park...I even doubt they saw us enter there! It was so much closer to the Hall. And we were expecting to meet some interesting ppl there. But no chance I must recognize. We have stayed in the car for about 1 hour, eating our sandwiches, totally frozen...as the Hall was unaccessible to the public at that so early time.
Third, when we finally could enter the place, we went straight to the seats we had been attributed and what a surprise to notice that we were really well placed. And we even have been proposed to move some places by a nice guy, who happened to have the seat right in the middle between my friends and me. Very kind of him. I later realized that his gesture wasn't for free...But he's been disappointed. He wasted his one and only chance when his phone rang in the middle of the game. The match wasn't about to begin but commentators from French tv have entered the Hall, just in front of our seats. And they have started commenting on the atmosphere. And we were so glad because one the 2 commentators was Arnaud Boetsch. He kept on waving in our direction, each time we were making noise to accompany their comments. And when players have entered the court, they have gone into the press room which was situated right in our back. So you can imagine how well placed we were. We had the same view the tv commentators had. You'll see on the pics, as all pics from the matches have been taken from my seat. And I was so glad that security men couldn't find my camera in my bag...I knew they would take it from me if they happened to find it. So I had put so much stuff in my bag to make it the messier that they gave up without even wanting to search for something when they asked me to open it....
Some words about the general atmosphere....Picture this. A Hall generally welcoming basketball matches, with 6000 ppl inside. On these 6000, there were maybe 35 for Sweden...Imagine! The French team wasn't favourite on the paper for this doubles match. So we were firmly determined to help our Frenchies the best way we could. And we did. My hands were painfull because of those cheer sticks I haven't stopped clapping for the whole match. And my voice didn't resist long...I was kinda sad for those poor Swedish supporters who have had such a hard time making them hearable...but they did their best!
Players have entered the court. And the official presentation has been made. The one who has been the most applauded was....Mats Wilander. Which I find so logical, given his legendary past as a player. Then, national anthems have been played. And yes, our Frenchies have sung it aloud, alltogether. You'll see the pic. After that, the speaker has asked for a minute of silence, in respectfull memory of the Tsunami victims. That moment was the most moving of the whole day. Even more than the win of my Frenchies...
Players have started practising...and I couldn't stop looking at Wilander, with his cap. He was wearing a cap representing the Swedish flag. He didn't have any during the first day. He was so funny with it! But the Hall being really warm, he hasn't stopped taking it off because he was sweating too much...
The match in itself, well, it's been really close. The 1st set was what I would call a warm-up. Every player was searching for his marks...and what was expectable happened. Arnaud not being known to have a great serve, showed much difficulty to win it each time it was his turn. At 4/4, Sweden broke. Causing some panic in the crowd, bringing even more noise during the following game. Don't know if that helped but France broke back straight afterwards. Naturally leading to a tie-break, won by France.
The 2nd set has seen quite the same scenario, except that the beak-rebreak has happened earlier. And Arnaud gained so much in confidence that he became rather the only one you could see on the court. Mika was encouraged by this rebellion and made some incredible returns....It was nevertheless really tight, as Martin and Jonas have such a wonderfull cover of the net. And both have a great serve, usually above 200 kms.Anyway, 2nd set for France, 6/4.
The 3rd set has been identical on the scheme of breaks...Sweden 1st, immediately broken back by France. But this time, the tie-break has been different. French players have shown some tiredness in making some shots totally unappropriate. And Swedish took advantage of it. Mats couldn't stay on the bench. He was on the court, clapping his hands, yelling at his players...Guy was nervous too but was silent. He kept on biting his nails...I'm sure that with all he has bitten, he'll have to attack his toes on the Sunday....Incredible atmosphere, incredible shots and 3rd set for Sweden. I must admit I was secretly wishing Sweden to win this 3rd set. Because I wanted this match to go on as long as possible...
Right after the win of the 3rd set, Simon has called for the doctor. He was suffering cramps in his right calf. They had been playing for 2.45 hours. And the match had been so tight...
At 2/1 for France, on the Swedish serve, there has been a strong contestation movement on the game point. Sweden was 40/30. And the ball had been announced out. Commentators have alerted Guillaume Raoux, who told Forget that the ball was good. And of course, it was. We were right in the axe of the line and we have seen the ball perfectly whiten the line. It's not so the fact that the point was contested that was the main pb. But when the umpire went to check the mark, he showed another one! The public and the French players were totally mad. Forget has tried to discuss but in vain. He kept on saying that tv had replayed the point and that it was good, he refused to replay the point and maintained the game for Sweden. Arnaud was so mad that I even thought he was about to hit the umpire...Guy has had big trouble keeping him within reasonable limits...Anyway, the game started again...with a detestable atmosphere this time. And I admit I found it absurd. Because each ball which was out for the Swedish players has been booed...but they were not responsible for the umpire's decision. And this stupid behaviour lasted for about 2 games. Yet, the contestation has given Mika and Arnaud even more will to fight and they have finally won the match after breaking Sweden for the last time at 5/4.
