Different But Never the Same as “Mythical” Bercy – Tennis Now

By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, October 27, 2025Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Arthur Rinderknech continued his Masters Series success with a winning homecoming in Paris.

The French wild card whipped 16 aces in a 7-6(5), 7-6(4) win over Fabian Marozsan in his Rolex Paris Masters opener today.

Empowered by his run to the Rolex Shanghai Masters final earlier this month where he lost to his cousin, Valentin Vacherot, Rinderknech created the prospect of a Paris rematch with Vacherot.

If wild card Vacherot beats 14th-seeded Jiri Lehecka in his opener, he will face off against Rinderknech for the second straight Masters 1000 event.

This is the first year the Rolex Paris Masters is being staged at the Paris La Defense Arena after years at the Accor Arena in Paris Bercy.

Asked his reaction to the new home of the Paris Masters, the 30-year-old Rinderknech said he likes the new larger Paris La Defense Arena, but it will never be the same as the “mythical” Bercy former home of the tournament.

“It’s different, because it will never be the same as Bercy,” Rinderknech said. “Bercy was mythical, thanksto the history and what happened, but I guess the public is the same, the same connoisseurs of tennis come to La Defense that went to Bercy, and it’s the same tournament, same atmosphere, same colors, same conditions. But obviously it’s not the same.

“But the arena is beautiful. The center court is beautiful. The music and colors when you come in are beautiful. For us tennis players we cannot but be happy to have these excellent conditions.”

Rinderknech is one of six Frenchman in the field as 2024 finalist, Ugo Humbert, withdrew from the tournament.

Tournament Director Cedric Pioline said there are two other primary differences between the tournament’s new home in La Defense Arena and the former home at Accor Arena. The current court conditions are slower and the center court venue is the largest indoor only court in the sport and second to Arthur Ashe Stadium in seating size.

“The surface is slower than last year,” Pioline told the media in Paris. “It was our desire to make it slower, as well. [Players] seem to be satisfied. We see that the players are quite satisfied. It is important for us.

“As for the lighting, it’s very good. I think that the light especially on the outside courts, because they can see that everything is wider, bigger, higher. They can actually make lobs, for instance.

“[Carlos Alcaraz’s coach] Juan Carlos Ferrero was talking to me earlier on. Hisplayer was practicing on the central court. He was asking for the capacity. When I said it’s 17,500 seats, it’s actually the second biggest after New York. It’s wonderful. It’s their new playing field, our new home for Rolex Paris Masters… Maybe there are some problems that we will not be able tofix today, but we will be able to do it next year.”