." I only won as well as I want thumps," Croatian ping pong star Donna Vekiu0107 declares Friday mid-day of the US Open. She is actually merely beaten Peyton Stearns-- as well as after stretching as well as bathing-- her next cease pre-press conference is actually the petit Julien Farel pop-up salon concealed inside Queens's Arthur Ashe Stadium. "I had been actually waiting all time to see Julian and also acquire thumps inspired through Margot Robbie." More than 20 years ago, hair stylist Julien Farel came close to the USA Tennis Association along with a suggestion: a beauty salon where tennis gamers could possibly pop in for a hairstyle, design, or an additional type of self-care during the course of the United States Open, one of the best high-intensity competitions of their year. "It took all of them five years to say yes to me," Farel, now 16 years right into the beauty parlor relationship at the Open, tells me along with a smile. "I was very persistent given that I understood this will be actually a perk for lots of sportsmens. And also I corrected. Right now, they await this moment ahead in and also receive a hairstyle." Most of the sport's largest names have actually rested inside this salon, which is just available during the course of the two full weeks of the competition: "I reduced Rafael Nadal's hair coming from lengthy to brief in 2010, that occurred right here as well as it was a significant deal. Everybody coming from Billie Jean Master to [Martina] Navratilova has actually sat in these office chairs. We possessed Coco below right after she gained in 2013's competition, as well." Vekiu0107 and her new booms, recently cut by Julien Farel.Captured by Caroline Tompkins.