#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream
Under clouds, this morning, I left the flat. Early. Before traffic, before crowds. Once again, heading to the Tuileries and back before breakfast. Crossing the footbridge: Léopold-Sédar-Senghor. But I must be make sure to return to the flat by 9:00 – as today we are spending the day at the French Open, and I am looking forward to seeing Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams play.
At Roland-Garros, there are crowds and rain, then sun and crowds, and the highlight of the day is watching Serena playing her first match of a major tournament after having time off to have her baby. What a thrill to see her struggle. She has no mask: she shows all her emotion. Clearly, it's a struggle to get back in shape. And she triumphs - what a delight!
“Serena Williams beats Kristyna Pliskova 7-6, 6-4!
On the face of it Serena Williams winning a first-round match at a grand slam doesn’t seem like much of a story - until you remember that it’s her first competitive tennis since March, her first on clay in two years and her first match at a major since she gave birth to her first child. Her nerves at the end are no surprise. She butchers her first match point with a dreadful drop shot and then she has to wipe out three break points as Pliskova comes out swinging. But when she earns a second match point, Pliskov nets a forehand. That’s it. Williams holds her hands in the air to salute the crowd and then she walks back to her chair. All very contained.”
All photos and text ©Kelly DuMar 2018 unless otherwise attributed