the center court

Serge Philippot

Noah Philippot) Roland Garros Tennis

Un mot sur l'oeuvre

( REF : SPHI003)

Every French person who was around at the time can remember what they were doing
and where they were on that afternoon of June 5th 1983. There are moments like that,
whether you like sport or not, when you can't not be aware of what is happening, when you
are quite simply swept along by it all. There are days like that where the tv, the radio, the
noise from the neighbours, or simply other people, all lead you back to this event and you get sucked in.
Yannick Noah after his victory over Mats Wilander in the French Open final.

Le témoignage de Serge Philippot

I am just about 1.70m tall, so working in this total chaos was really complicated. I was giving my all, stressed out by the stakes involved in this victory and the images for my magazine (Tennis magazine). I had to bring back some really good stuff. To get this shot, I seem to remember having to climb two or three rungs of the umpire’s chair. It’s amazing because he is in the middle of the throngs of people and yet he’s the only one you see, he is glowing.

Le choix de Jean-Denis

This was the « 50 million (little) Noahs ! » referred to by Denis Lalanne in L’Equipe the day after. Yannick entering forever into the hearts of the French. And it’s still the same today.
Beyond the event and precise moment shown, this photograph is also an atmosphere with all the tiny details that take you back. For example, photography fans will notice the Tri X label on the back of the photographer’s camera on the left, measuring the time that has passed in photography technology.