he goes “almost every year” see the matches. This time, Isaac will be a slightly more privileged spectator than the others at Roland-Garros. The 15-year-old teenager, licensed at the Tours Tennis Club, is one of the 285 ball boys selected, with another youngster from Indre-et-Loire, for the 2022 tournament, which begins this Sunday, May 22.
Present at Porte d’Auteuil for a week, for the qualifications of the Parisian Grand Slam on clay, Isaac is living a daydream. “We were 5,000 at the start during the selections, I am incredibly lucky to be there, to see players like Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Carlos Alcaraz up close. [[NDLR : la nouvelle pépite du tennis mondial]]. I don’t realize it yet. Ballboy at Roland-Garros, it only happens once in a lifetime, I will remember it forever.” With his 85 meter, he will be positioned at the back of the court during matches to give the balls to the players, just before they serve.
The tics and superstitions of the players studied
In the heat, Isaac will never make an entire match, as some can last over 5 hours. He will be supplemented by another ball boy on his post, every 30 minutes. A rotation that allows you to rehydrate, to get in the shade and to regain a little concentration, which is essential. “In a match, you have to go as quickly as possible. We have no room for error otherwise we are sure not to make the semi-finals or the final. We are not allowed to speak to players on the court, we can’t take any pictures with them outside because they are very busy. But Novak Djokovic, he likes to greet the public by inviting the ball boys to the center of the court when he wins, so maybe I’ll get that.”
Isaac was also briefed on tennismen and tenniswomen who have some tics and superstitions. “I know that Richard Gasquet, when he wins a point, he wants to play with the same ball again. So if it’s at the other end of the court, you have to bring it back as quickly as possible to put it in the key. Rafael Nadal , he doesn’t like that we pass the balls behind him to have a balance, that is to say that my comrade from the back of the court has the same number of balls in his hand as me. I have three and my comrade one.” We can also mention Gilles Simon, who wishes to have his towel at the end of each point.
For the opening of the tournament, Isaac will be on court n°13 and on Monday evening, on the Philippe-Chatrier, the largest court at Roland-Garros. Throughout this fortnight, Isaac will be noted. If he makes a good impression, he can hope to participate in the final.