This Thursday at midday, the atmosphere is calm around the courts: 60 people in the central stands, about thirty on Court A. The audience is sparse to applaud the performance of the young Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia. Invited by the organizers, she affords herself the luxury of a quarter-final qualification by defeating the Czech fourth seed Sandra Zahlavova (2-6, 6-4, 6-3). An achievement for the 16-year-old player.
The competition takes place over a week. Matches are free on Monday, then entrance costs 4, 6, 8, and 10 euros for Tuesday-Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and the weekend, respectively. With 100,000 dollars in prize money plus accommodation, the Open GDF Suez is one of the major tournaments on the ITF women’s circuit (International Tennis Federation). It is an essential passage for young ambitious female tennis players. The emphasis on femininity introduced this year is a new asset to attract the public.
A mini-village has been set up for the event. White tents and green carpet welcome the public but also and especially business partners. A VIP area is reserved for them for convivial but upscale meals: suits and dresses are the order of the day. This year the tournament aspires to be chic. The players also have their corner to dine with their coaches. The public has access to a quite pleasant restaurant set up for the occasion. Among visitors seated at sunlit tables, Valérie Nicolas, former best handball player in the world, has come to enjoy the excitement of the Cagnes-sur-Mer tournament. If you appreciate the little yellow ball and want to emulate the champion, you have until Sunday to come and enjoy the friendliness of this event.
