French Open Preview

With Andy’s ankle getting better by the day, the second Grand Slam of 2006 is just around the corner. From the sticky grip in Australia to now the slipping and sliding on clay, play on this surface has reached its culminating event: the French Open.

With this being the most unpredictable Slam, the city of Paris is anxiously waiting two weeks of great tennis and a new champion. Having 250 ball boys and girls running after the red-dusted rockets throughout the fortnight on all 18 courts at Roland Garros, players are set serve up some “W”’s at a speedy pace.

As you roam around Paris and see all of the beautiful monuments, there will come a point where you’ll get hungry, or want to know where a store is, or even how to get back to your hotel. Here are some helpful phrases while visiting this Slam:

Good morning/good day: (bon-zhoor) Bon jour
Please: (seel voo play) S’il vous plaît
Pardon me: (pahr-dohn) Pardon
My name is ___. : (juh mah-pell) Je m’appelle __.
I’m going to __. : (Jhe vayz ah ___.) Je vais à __.
Where is the restaurant?: (Ooh-ay leh restaurant?) Où est le restaurant?
Good-bye: (oh ruh-vwar) Au revoir

Even though Andy has said au revoir within the first few rounds here in past years, he has his hopes high to keep improving on this difficult surface.

“One goal I set was to do better than I’ve done in Paris (the third round in 2001), and if it’s sunny for two weeks and the courts are quick, who knows?” Set to first face Spaniard Alberto Martin, who Andy holds a quadruple bagel of a record over, Andy’s sliding and volleying are top notch right now so this will be an eventful match.

Stay tuned for the latest on Andy and the French Open! ESPN2 will be showing over one hundred hours of the French Open, starting at 5am (EST) every day for 8 hours a day, also with some replay time. Click HERE for a full venue of times to see Andy’s matches. Go Andy!