The “tennis addict” who rehabilitated an abandoned court to train in confinement

The French Arthur Reymond, 589 of the ATP ranking, returned to activity after almost three weeks of strenuous work.

On March 10, Arthur Reymond played his last match in Toulouse, a modest 'indoor' tournament organized by the ITF that awards 15,000 euros to the champion. The illusion of competing in his hometown did not prevent a second-round defeat that gave way to forced labor due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Reymond, 21, was then confined with his parents and older brother in a country house. His only obsession was to take up his racket again.

From Villemur-sur-Tarn, a town of just over 5,000 inhabitants to the north of Toulouse, the 589th ATP ranking was constantly turning his head. And in late March, his father started talking to him about the abandoned court of his neighbor, former president of the local tennis club.

“They had abandoned it almost 10 years ago and not even the stripes were visible. In that area you could not prune or put a basket,” admits Reymond on the pages of L'Equipe, where he has related this story of passionate love for his sport. Challenging the vegetation and the first heats of spring, the whole family got down to work.

“It was hell”

Among the greatest difficulties, Arthur remembers the dozens of acacia roots “thicker than a tennis ball.” “It was very, very difficult. Hell. We did not see the end,” he endorses the work with his father, who owns a small construction company, who had built his own house years ago.

The fatigue to smooth the surface, the sweats with the shovel and the innumerable trips with the wheelbarrow lasted almost three weeks. Then the clay had to be ordered and spread. Also endure several days of rain that forced them to resume work. Her brother and mother also collaborated on the last touches.

“It is not the Central of Roland Garros, but it has become like a pool table,” proclaims Reymond, a “total addicted” to tennis, the sport that returns to normal in France as of Monday. Time for this left-handed player to show off his backhand and be able to earn a living like so many other racket workers.