Mahut the dancing dad
The chance for Nicolas Mahut to have his son share in a Grand Slam triumph is a pleasure few players are lucky enough to experience.
The 36-year-old provided some of the lasting images of this year’s Roland-Garros when he “floss-danced” in celebration with his six-year-old, Natanel, on Court Philippe Chatrier before the crowd broke into a rendition of La Marseillaise as he and compatriot Pierre-Hughes Herbert clutched the trophy.
How distant those scenes felt on Monday when on the green lawns at Roehampton, the Frenchman stood on the precipice of a first-match defeat in Wimbledon Qualifying.
Trailing a set and 1-4 in the second-set tie-break, Mahut’s experience shone as he found a way to reverse his fortunes against Colombian upstart Daniel Elahi Galan, 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-2.
“Many things went through my mind today when I was losing a set and I was in trouble in the tie-break in the second set,” Mahut said. “It was really close to the end here for me so I was really happy to get through that one.
“I will have to play much better this week if I want to qualify. When you play qualies, sometimes you don’t need to play good tennis, you just need to fight and that’s what I did.”
Marathon man
That drive to scrape through an opening round of singles qualifying, clinging to hopes of contesting a 13th straight Wimbledon main draw still stirs within Mahut.
His ranking of world No.130 is 93 places below his career-best mark four years ago. It would be easy to concentrate solely on his more fruitful doubles exploits with Herbert.
A champion at the All England Club alongside Herbert two years ago, coupled with his lone career run to the fourth round of a Grand Slam in singles in that same Wimbledon campaign remain Mahut’s highlights.
Regardless, he will always be best remembered for that record-breaking first-round match in 2010.
A plaque on the rear brick wall of Court 18 is a permanent reminder of his part in the longest match in tennis history – a 70-68 fifth-set defeat to John Isner.
“I still want to be competitive as a singles player, especially here,” Mahut said. “It’s probably the best tournament you can play as a tennis player. I have so many good memories from the tournament. I have a great story from Wimbledon so I just want to try my best to come back one more time in singles to play the best event.”
It was that campaign in which Mahut was last forced to come through qualifying at Roehampton to take his place in the main draw.
“I know I have to deserve to play at Wimbledon but this is part of the game when you’re not top 10, top 20,” he said. “You might have to play some Challengers, qualies here. I have two more matches yet to play that slam.”
Chilean Christian Garin is his next hurdle. But don’t expect a sighting just yet of his good-luck charm courtside – or indeed on court – should he go on to win his subsequent two Qualifying matches.
Wife Virginie and son Natanel have not made the trip across the English Channel.
“They’re not here yet, they have many things to do,” he grinned. “School is not over yet in France but I want to have them close to me. It’s becoming very difficult for me to travel without them so I want them to come because every time they’re here I play good tennis so I’ll try to bring them.”
So will Dad be brushing up on his “floss-dancing” moves in the meantime should he win two more matches at Roehampton?
“Not here, I won’t do it here,” he laughed. “Maybe at Wimbledon if we do well in doubles or singles.”
Rest assured, Natanal will be ready to show up Dad again.