French Open Betting / Barry Millns / 28 May 2008 /

No one knows what goes on behind the scenes like tennis TV commentator Barry Millns. Video games, the odd game of pool or blogging are all popular ways to relax but which player once hid naked in Ivan Ljubicic's locker as a prank?

When it comes to grand slam tennis the mix of nationalities and personalities makes for a vibrant mix on and off the court. The French Open is no exception and the ways players manage their time between matches at Roland Garros can vary considerably.

If a player is required to do drug testing then it will take place as soon as they come off court. Beyond that and a quick shower, most choose to get their media commitments out of the way as soon as possible, doing press conferences and interviews, before turning their attention to post match recovery, rest and relaxation.

Much initially will depend on the length of match they played and how demanding it was. Massage is usually a priority and in extreme cases players have been put on intravenous drips to re-hydrate, as Justine Henin was after her epic US Open semi-final against Jennifer Capriati in 2003, the Belgian bouncing back less than 24 hours later to win the title.

At the opposite extreme, though, I remember watching in awe as former French Open champion Thomas Muster practiced shirtless in blast furnace conditions outdoors in Melbourne for well over an hour after he had brushed aside Russia's Alexander Volkov. When everyone else was desperately seeking cool refuge from the searing heat, the Austrian iron-man clearly felt in need of something rather more taxing!

Things are not quite as hot right now in Paris, but being in the fashion capital of the world you can be sure that icons such as Maria Sharapova (currently trading at [6.8] to complete her grand slam collection), Ana Ivanovic [9] and Serena Williams [4.9] will find time to visit the most fashionable stores when they can. Then, of course, there is also the superb cuisine on offer throughout the city and with no night sessions to worry about at Roland Garros, making dinner reservations is all part of the day's work.

Forty years ago when tennis first went 'open' to professionals and amateurs, players thought nothing of battling each other on court and then sharing more than a few beers afterwards. Now, while the rewards are far greater, they come at a price of having to be far more controlled and dedicated in the goldfish bowl environment of a global professional sport, and for some that is harder to handle than others.

So the hours of dedication between matches have to be filled in other ways. These days, aside from the standard requirements of sleeping, eating, practicing, working out and devising game-plans there is far more to do than just reading, playing cards and listening to music - video games and pool tables have long featured in player lounges, plenty have their own websites to update and some will find any excuse to blog!

For those not quite so intent on self-promotion, fulfilling sponsor commitments or contributing time and money to the various charitable foundations, which the likes of Roger Federer [4.2] and Rafael Nadal [1.79] have set up, certainly keeps them busy.

Then there are those with more exotic pursuits such as David Nalbandian [55] who spends time checking up on the progress of his motor rallying team in Argentina and Juan Carlos Ferrero [270] who likes to keep tabs on business back at his Hotel Ferrero in Valencia. As for Martin Vassallo Arguello [1000] (Nikolay Davydenko's opponent in THAT match last year in Sopot) the Argentine always has his video camera handy as he not only likes to make documentaries but also capture the latest player impressions by Novak Djokovic [9.4].

In fact for some, such as Michael Llodra [1000], humour is by far the best way to cope with the hours of hanging around and if the French practical joker is in the building, you never know what he might do next. Just ask Ivan Ljubicic [1000] who was once shocked to find Llodra hiding naked in his locker "to get positive energy" from him when the Croat was winning so many matches!

It takes all sorts.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: