THE third day of the French Open might best be described as a Beaujolais sort of day, but in deference to the 8,000 schoolchildren present free of charge, and the French government's persistent attempts to curb excessive drinking, it would perhaps be better to relate it as merely routine.
Not that anything here can ever really be termed commonplace. The choked roads of the adjacent northern peripherique are an early morning reminder that life goes on beyond this tournament, but once inside Roland Garros the magic of the world's premier clay-court event seeps into the bones, to say nothing of Burgundy's most accessible tipple.
There certainly was a touch of the bizarre but as this involved Jeff Tarango it was both utterly predictable and puerile. The American, booted out of Wimbledon two years ago (but set to return next month), tried everything to aggravate Thomas Muster - from apeing his walk and imitating his grunt, to serving underarm.
Muster, the former King of Clay, and champion here two years ago, has been almost totally out of form on the surface this year and Tarango no doubt felt that mischief was the best form of attack.
The Austrian, who at one point called in the supervisor kept his temper admirably although he refused to shake hands at the end after winning 7-5, 1-6 (when his concentration understandably slipped), 6-2, 6-1. "We know the history of Jeff," said Muster wearily afterwards.
In the third set, when presented with a juicy smash, he did his best to drill Mr Tarango's vitals but thereafter the lack of handshake apart, he limited himself to mild criticism of his opponent's unprofessionalism.
"I think his ego was probably bruised," said Tarango provocatively. "I was just having fun. Other people might have had different opinions." They most certainly did. Tarango knew precisely what he was doing and, not being able to beat Muster any other way, chose the tactics of a charlatan.
It is generally agreed, with the ball a shade smaller and the courts a little slicker in the fierce heat, that last year favoured the serve-and-volley men, hence the appearance also of Michael Stich and Marc Rosset in the last four. And the same applies this year, providing the rain holds off.
The last genuinely attacking player to win the title was Yannick Noah in 1983, and before him, Rod Laver. The odds remain against Pete Sampras, but so far, so good for the American who has three Wimbledon, four US Open, and two Australian Open wins to his name.
Yesterday he completed his second consecutive straight sets victory, defeating Spain's Francisco Clavet 6-1, 6-2, 6-2, a far cry from his second-round match last year when another Spaniard, the twice French champion Sergi Bruguera, took Sampras to five enervating sets.
Carlos Moya, beaten by Sampras in the Australian Open final in January, and seeded No 9, lost to fellow Spaniard Albert Portas in four sets.
Moya has been struggling, largely unsuccessfully, to rediscover the coruscating form of Melbourne which thrust him into the Top 10.
