There are interviews that go beyond the simple realm of sports. With  Yannick Noah It's impossible to talk only about tennis.  Cameroon , where he spent part of his childhood, the former winner of  Roland Garros  returned to the event organized around  Paul Atanga Nji , Cameroonian Minister of the Interior, but also on his relationship to tennis, music, fame, family, spirituality and his childhood memories.

In a very open exchange,  Yannick Noah  He talks about his role as “entertainer” during those three days, his current inability to really play tennis again, his special connection with Cameroon, his dream of sailing around the world, the pressure surrounding the children of champions, but also that famous catechism anecdote that finally led him… to tennis.

"This event is one of a kind."

 Franck Binisti:  Yannick, we experienced a rather unusual event over three days, with Minister Paul Atanga Nji playing against former great players. It's quite an atypical situation, isn't it?

 Yannick Noah:  Yes, this event is special. A celebrity inviting players does happen, but here, the first thing is that he's a real tennis fan.

I've known him for years. He's a tennis fanatic. He follows everything that's going on and he plays every day.

His dream is to play against veterans and challenge veterans his own age. But he has the particularity of being extremely resilient.

On one hand, he's trying to break records for very long matches. But deep down, I think he's mostly just thrilled to be playing against players like the ones here this year.

I've already done some  pro-ams I have played with amateurs before or in somewhat exotic locations, but this event is truly one of a kind.

Yannick Noah: "It's partly thanks to God... that I really played tennis."
Yannick Noah: "It's partly thanks to God... that I really played tennis."

"When it's necessary to stir things up a bit, I'm always up for it."

 Franck Binisti:  During these three days, we saw you in a particular role: atmosphere-setter, organizer, advisor…

 Yannick Noah:  I didn't have much to do, other than help a little with the organization to bring in the players.

But they are long matches, played in a friendly atmosphere. And when it's time to stir things up a bit, I'm always up for it.

 Farnck Binisti:  You split your time between France and Cameroon, but there will soon be a bit more of France with your tour…

 Yannick Noah:  Yes, I'm on tour. I started in January and it goes until December, with a break in the summer.

I also take care of the tennis at the French Paralympic team And besides, August is a sacred month for the family.

This year, I have  80 concerts So I spend a lot of time in France.

"I don't play tennis at all anymore."

 Franck Binisti:  Many were perhaps hoping to see you on the field.

 Yannick Noah:  I don't play at all anymore.

I was still playing a little bit, but three years ago I played a football match and completely tore my hamstrings. I never really recovered.

I can jog, do a little cycling, play golf, hit a few balls with friends, but I can't really play.

If a bullet is a bit far away, even though I know it's risky, I'll try to go for it. And every time, it ends badly. So I play it safe.

Yannick Noah: "It's partly thanks to God... that I really played tennis."

"I go where life takes me."

 Question:  Will tennis always remain your greatest passion?

 Yannick Noah:  I go pretty much where life takes me.

I had a professional career in  15 years I was captain for  8 years and I've been making music since  30 years .

I move from one world to the other quite easily. It's complementary and I organize myself.

That said, the day I kick the bucket, I think they'll show a picture of me with Dad jumping on the court.  Roland Garros .

I played a lot of tennis, I make a lot of music, I have other passions, I love sailing, I love life. I enjoy it.

"Roland-Garros is an emotion that belongs to the people."

 Franck Binisti:  Today, do people know you more as a French Open champion or as a singer?

 Yannick Noah:  It depends on the generation.

My moment of glory on the court was a while ago  42 years It was a very emotional moment. Many people experienced it in front of their televisions and still remember it today.

But I don't think about it every day. When people talk to me about it, it's the past. I'm more someone who still has dreams, who lives in the present and enjoys what life gives me.

 Question:  Do you regret that people always bring you back to Roland-Garros?

 Yannick Noah:  No, I don't regret anything at all.

Every time people mention it to me, it's because it's a beautiful memory. Many people shed tears of joy in front of their televisions. It's priceless.

I entered people's lives in this way. When they come to talk to me about it, I take it with great sensitivity, because there is always sincerity.

Yannick Noah: "It's partly thanks to God... that I really played tennis."
Yannick Noah: "It's partly thanks to God... that I really played tennis."

"Here, there is a sense of brotherhood."

 Question:  Do you feel there is a difference in popularity between France and Cameroon?

 Yannick Noah:  It's subtle and difficult to generalize.

Here, there's a kind of brotherhood. I'm treated like an older brother, a brother, or a son.

In France, when I am recognized, it's more as a public figure. It's different.

"Sailing is my lifelong dream."

 Question:  You mentioned sailing. Is it a real passion of yours?

 Yannick Noah:  Yes. Here, I live near the water, but sailing is above all my life's dream.

I always did a lot of boating whenever I could, during the holidays. It's a way to escape the whirlwind of life.

There is calm, a connection with nature. I fell in love with sailing a long time ago.

My crazy dream was to sail around the world. I started it in  2015 and it stopped with Covid. I still managed three years.

 Question:  You speak of this dream in the past tense. Is it still a goal?

 Yannick Noah:  I had planned to do it in two parts: three and a half years, then a one-year break to do a tour, then back to the other side via the Panama Canal.

But then there was Covid. There's also the family timing. I have six children. At that time, my son Jo could still follow the adventure with correspondence courses.

My dream was to do it with my family or with others. Not alone. I would be incapable of traveling around the world by myself.

"I never wanted to push my children towards tennis."

 Question:  Among your children, we obviously know Joakim Noah, the basketball player. Have you ever wanted to see one of them become a tennis champion?

 Yannick Noah:  Not at all. It never crossed my mind.

They all played tennis, but I think that in 99,9% of cases, you have to do sports to have fun.

People often assume that because a father played tennis, his son or daughter will automatically play. But just because a man is a doctor doesn't mean his child will become a doctor.

I mostly tried to listen to my children and support them in what they wanted to do.

 Question:  Some parents push their children too hard. How can we find the right balance?

 Yannick Noah:  If there was a book called “How to Have a Champion for Idiots”, I think we would all read it.

There is no rule.

I have six children and they are all different. Some need a bit of a push, others need different support. You have to listen to them.

We often talk about parents who pushed too hard, but without certain parents, some champions would never have existed.  McEnroe ,  Connors ,  villages … many had very present parents.

Then, you have to find the balance.

"Money and fame mostly change the people around you."

 Question:  When you started winning, becoming very popular, were you afraid of losing your grip on reality?

 Yannick Noah:  Never.

It was mainly the people around me who changed. The public, my loved ones, the people who came to me. They looked at me differently.

The people around me were excited. Even when they came with good intentions, their behavior was no longer the same.

At first, it's about adapting. We protect ourselves as best we can.

Yannick Noah: "It's partly thanks to God... that I really played tennis."

"It's not you who changes, it's life around you."

 Yannick Noah:  Some say, "He's gotten a big head." But often, no. He's just protecting himself.

Life changes overnight. You're young, and suddenly you're paying for everyone, for your parents, for the house.

People don't talk to you the same way anymore. If you're not careful, you can miss the essential things.

It's not you who changes. It's the people around you who change.

"In a family, it's important to maintain balance."

 Question:  Even the family around you changes?

 Yannick Noah:  Of course. Everyone has to adapt.

Suddenly, you take up a lot of space in the family. When I travel with my six children, people immediately start talking about  Joakim As if the others didn't exist.

At home, care must be taken to ensure that this external energy does not continue within the family circle.

"Today, tennis is far too bland."

 Question:  Back then, players like McEnroe, Connors, and Vilas had very strong personalities. We don't see that as much today…

 Yannick Noah:  Today's players have just as much character, maybe even more. But the rules have changed.

Back then, when McEnroe said “fuck”, people applauded. They even looked forward to that moment.

Today, if you say “shit” during a match, you get a warning.

So everything becomes very smooth. Much too smooth.

"The code of conduct needs to be changed."

 Yannick Noah:  If I could change something, I would change the  code of Conduct .

I think that if a player behaves badly, the public may decide not to support him. But at least something happens.

Today, the players play extraordinary tennis – technically, physically, everything you could want. But something is missing: we want to get to know the players better.

Because they no longer really have the right to speak or step outside the box, we don't know them. And that's a shame.

"My childhood in Cameroon was light, joyful, and simple."

 Question:  You lived in Cameroon from the age of 2 to 12. Do those memories remain very strong?

 Yannick Noah:  Yes. It's the 70s, a different era.

I lived here from age 2 to 12, then I left early. So the memories remain.

It was childhood, carefree days. Living in Africa at that time was so light, joyful and simple.

We had a great laugh.

"It was thanks to catechism that I really started playing tennis."

Yannick Noah then recounts a formative anecdote from his childhood.

 Yannick Noah:  At the time, we didn't go to school on Thursdays. My mother would drop me off at catechism.

I didn't really want to go. Not because I didn't want to have a connection with God, but because catechism was right across from the tennis club.

As soon as my mother's car left, I would cross the road and go play tennis all day.

After a few months, there was the communion… and I wasn’t aware of it.

I was found out and got a good scolding.

But ultimately, I tell myself that fifteen years later, I lived my dream of being a tennis player. And it's partly thanks to God, even though I never met him directly. It was thanks to catechism that I really played tennis.

"I take a little bit of everything."

 Question:  Do you still go to church?

 Yannick Noah:  Rarely, more often for events.

But I live in Montmartre, near the Sacré-Cœur, and I often go there to light candles.

I also spent a lot of time in Nepal. I took in a little bit of everything: local traditions, oral transmission, the notion of cause and effect, the idea that there is something else after.

Anything that makes us feel good and connects us, I'll take.

Master sapper Callaghan

At the end of the interview, Yannick Noah recounts an old Cameroonian anecdote about the  Master sapper Callaghan , a figure of style and local elegance.

 Yannick Noah:  Those were different times. We used to go to the cinema on Saturday afternoons because it was cheaper.

Before the screening, there was a dance competition on stage, in front of the screen, followed by cultural news.

We often saw  J with his eccentric outfits. Then we would go to the neighborhood and ask local tailors to make us clothes in that style.

 Yannick Noah:  Back then, it wasn't expensive. You could get a very short, very stylish pair of trousers made. You had to dress up.

The master sapeurs were the guides of fashion. When they dressed a certain way, everyone followed.

Callaghan was the master sapeur. He pretty much controlled all the fashion here, because he dressed like an American.

And at the time, you had to dress like an American.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

On the same subject

Tags