Opelka or Thompson? Tough race in the Race to Barber's Shop
Probably those tennis professionals who know how to convince not only playfully but also with impressive facial hair.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: May 16, 2021, 08:04 pm
Biggest disappointment in Rome? Marton Fucsovics, no question about it. Not sporty, Fucsovics got out of the affair well, even in his second-round defeat against Dominic Thiem. But when it comes to facial hair, the 29-year-old who lives in Budapest is declining a lot. Reilly Opelka had thrown the gauntlet at him! More on that in a moment.
Marton Fucsovics, however, has thrilled in recent years with a mustache that both thrilled and disturbed. Enthusiastic about the accuracy with which the strip, which is a maximum of two centimeters wide, has set a fashionable mark. Disturbed because the inclined imitators thought: How the hell does Marton manage that? Does the barber travel unrecognized in his traveling train? In his best moments, Marton Fucsovics with this little beard was a clichéd candidate for the role of Prince Esterhazy in the long overdue remake of the Sissi trilogy.
With the 0815-Oberlipen-Chin-Ensemble that Marton offered in the Foro Italico, of course that won't work.
Opelka only endangered by Thompson
Reilly Opelka took a completely different approach, the lumberjack approach. Combined with a mane that the cap can hardly tame, Opelka was not only able to convince in a playful way. In addition the playful T-shirt of his Italian supplier - what an appearance. The service giant has clearly taken the lead in the Race to Barber's Shop, also because Benoit Paire, admittedly also with a very impressive chin mat, has left the sporting component out for the past week.
There is only danger from a young man from Australia, who in the coming week in Geneva may be the focus of the tennis public's attention for a few moments: Jordan Thompson, the possible second-round opponent of Roger Federer on his comeback. For years, Thompson has been sporting the "Pornobarken" model with success, pride and dignity, which would have brought him fame and glory off the tennis court in the 1970s.
Opelka, Thompson and, yes, when he finds his way back to his old beard strength, Marton Fucsovics too may not be quite on the level of Alexander Zverev or Stefanos Tsitsipas in terms of sport. Their certainly well-intentioned imitation of Aramis, Athos, Porthos and D'Artagnan urgently needs to be sharpened in order to be at the forefront in the really important categories.