French Open diary: Petkovic is a true thinker

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  • It’s not every day you get to sit with a tennis player and discuss German philosophers. But that is what makes Germany’s Andrea Petkovic so different.

    The 26-year-old reached the quarter-finals then came into the media centre to discuss some of her favourite authors and philosophers.

    “I have two favourite authors. One is [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe], which is our – well, for me – the greatest genius with words. Unfortunately, if you cannot speak German, it’s not so easy to appreciate that,” said Petkovic.

    “David Foster Wallace is the other one that I just started reading a couple of months ago and I’m totally amazed by him.

    “Philosopher wise, Friedrich Nietzsche is the one that impressed me most. I don’t necessarily agree with everything he says and it’s very dark and sad, but he was a good writer, too.

    “I actually really like the existentialists in French. I read a lot of (Jean-Paul) Sartre and (Albert) Camus.”

    Sign of the Times
    Out in the stands, celebrity figures continue to show up to catch some tennis. A couple of days after American actor Owen Wilson made the rounds, none other than Prince showed up.

    The American music legend was donning an impressive afro and had his signature cane with him as he watched Simona Halep take down his compatriot Sloane Stephens.

    Bruguera is Ferrer’s idol
    Meanwhile, David Ferrer revealed he has a favourite among the legendary coaches who have recently been hired on tour.

    The Spaniard said: “I’m happy with Sergi Bruguera because he was one of my idols when I was younger. I have a very good relationship with him.”

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