French Open in Paris

After Amsterdam, it was back to Paris. I got there a couple days before my parents arrived and learned when I got there that it was the middle of the French Open. I also learned that walk-ins were accepted if you got there early enough in the morning. I'd never been to a professional tennis tournament and was impressed by how close you get to sit to the court (if you're not in one of the main stadiums). The highlight match (for me) was Andy Murray versus Nicolás Almagro. Nicolás Almagro won. I shouldn't have been surprised by the athleticism of either player, but seeing them consistently hitting shots I would consider an amazing feat for me to hit just once reminded me that there is a difference between high school varsity and professional tennis and that it's a big one.

Here is probably the best sports picture I've every taken. Note how Andy Murray has the ball at just the right distance from his body to smack the living daylights out of it.

It's not that hard to rationalize, but I still found it a little over the top to have a boy holding an umbrella to shade the players while they rested during the breaks. Why not just have a stationery umbrella?