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AP PHOTOS: Tattoos, clay and bouncing hair bring the French Open to life
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The ball smashes the strings of the racket of France's Quentin Halysas as he serves against Denmark's Holger Rune during their third round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Friday, May 30, 2025. - photo by AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson
PARIS (AP) — It’s the small details that bring the French Open to life — a ball smashing into the strings of Quentin Halys’ racket as he serves, red clay staining a ball boy’s hand, or the burst of dust as Andrey Rublev knocks clay from his shoes. The tournament pulses with quiet moments: Cameron Norrie carefully changing the tape on his racket, players gripping balls smudged with red, sweat flicking from a wristband during a serve, and the Suzanne-Lenglen court mirrored in a spectator’s sunglasses. Body art and jewelry stand out — Aryna Sabalenka’s fierce tiger tattoo, Alexander Bublik’s reminder to “Always be a leader, not a follower” — while a tiny bug briefly lands on Alexander Zverev’s shirt near his ram necklace.