Playing the game with Lacoste

America, go again!”

I wasn’t used to being addressed by my country of birth, so it took me a moment before I snapped out of my reverie and stepped back onto the white line at Le Chataigneraie, a clay practice tennis court outside Paris. It was a chilly May 23 morning, and opposite the net was French pro player Henri Leconte — French Open Doubles finalist in ‘84, Davis Cup fifth rounder, and brand ambassador of Lacoste.

He was over there, smiling, cheerfully holding a tennis clinic for the Southeast Asian media who had come to Paris at the invitation of Lacoste. We were there to attend the French Open later that day and generally soak up all things Parisian (well, except for the awesome travel accommodations, courtesy of Cathay-Pacific).

It was part of our Lacoste “immersion experience,” a chance to get even closer to the game and the brand. Who could pass up the chance to raise rackets with a pro French player just a few hours before visiting Roland Garros to catch first-round action? Leconte eyed our group dubiously: “Er… do you want to play some tennis, or just have some coffee and talk?” We chose tennis. Shortly thereafter, Leconte schooled us with light volleys that eventually built up to full-force serves. I had changed into shorts for the workout, but clearly this was wishful thinking; my form was decidedly less than pro, my backhand was as weak as a kitten. Leconte, asking me where I was from, quickly began referring to me as “America.” But it didn’t raise my game much. Even in the chilly morning air, I quickly broke a sweat that turned into a gushing stream; my quads and calves already started to vibrate as I dove for passing shots (this was going to hurt the next day, I could tell).

See, I don’t really play tennis, haven’t even been on a court in five years, and — on top of that — I didn’t bother to stretch or limber up beforehand. Bad mistake.

Regarding Henri: Leconte treated media guests in Paris to a tennis clinic and a little Q&A.

During the brief clinic, Leconte adjusted his instruction to the level of each player. To me, he offered a few Zen-like tips: “You should learn to relax in your swing, take your time with the stroke, follow through… Treat the ball like it’s a delicate object…”

Yes, this sounded promising to the Zen part of my brain; on court, it was a little less translatable. When Leconte challenged us to return a few actual serves, I realized: This just got real. Even at half-speed, when his serves punched into my wooden racket, the recoil felt like a Smith & Wesson .45. This, I realized, was the obvious difference between being an athlete and being a journalist. But I did manage to return a few shots. Afterward we asked what it’s like being a Lacoste ambassador.

“It’s something special to be an ambassador for Lacoste, because it’s from generation to generation,” Leconte said. Indeed, the brand has been tied to pro players since the very beginning, when René Lacoste led his Four Musketeers to victory at the US Davis Cup in 1927. (Ah, so that’s where all that America-baiting comes from. It’s tradition!) As a Lacoste ambassador, Leconte conducts tennis clinics for fans and eager media folk like us; he does interviews and analysis at Grand Slam tournaments (he had an amusing comedy bit with Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open in 2013, faking an injury until “Doc” Djokovic patched him up on-court.) “And obviously you play wearing the brand as well,” he said, noting his Lacoste Ultra-Dry Piqué Sport polo. Yep, it kept him perfectly sweat-free. Unlike the rest of us.

I asked Leconte to rate Benoit Paire, the official Lacoste player in the French Open. “Benoit is very talented,” he said. “Lacoste always looks for key players who are French, because it’s a French brand.” (In fact, Lacoste sponsors about 30 players from around the world for the French Open.) Paire has been known to display some ‘tude on the court, peeving some fans. “It’s important to have some character,” shrugs Leconte. “Benoit has his own game and personality. My advice? To put his brain in the right direction.” (Paire eventually made second round.)

Lacoste Ultra-Dry piqué tennis polo in royal blue

.

As we know, clay is among the most challenging surfaces in the Grand Slam tournament. “This surface, it can change so much. It can be heavy, or fast. It can change in a day, or even an hour.” (This isn’t even mentioning the frequent rain that has plagued this year’s French Open, and Paris itself, even requiring the evacuation of artworks from the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay due to flooding.) “Clay has advantages, too. It’s a surface you can serve and volley on, because you have the time to make shots. You need to be fit, stronger than all other surfaces, like grass or hard courts. And if you play well on clay, you play well on all surfaces.”

Interestingly, for our clinic, we played with the new Lacoste wood and graphite rackets (weight: 320 grams). They were light to the touch, but definitely a throwback. “It’s a good idea; I don’t think most players could use wood rackets now, because when you play with wood you have to follow through; now, the way they play, they hit the ball hard, that’s it. But it’s unbelievable playing with it: no vibration. Enjoyable.”

Of course, with all the new technology in tennis, says Leconte, you can’t really go back. “Definitely tennis has changed physically, people are better prepared, like Formula 1. They hit the ball harder, they move better. Tennis is getting more and more professional, so technology is good for the game; but also it’s important to have some character and personality.”

He praised the new Lacoste fashion, just in time for Father’s Day: “Before Lacoste was typical white polos. It’s good Lacoste made new clothes like slim-fit and ultra-dry; that did really well. I remember playing in the ‘80s, it was so hot, when we changed the shirt it weighed like two kilos with the sweat.”

That, I could relate to.

Lacoste Sport polo in two-tone Ultra-Dry piqué

* * *

In the Philippines, Lacoste is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc.