PARIS – When 28-year-old Lucas Feron entered Court Philippe Chatrier at the French Open, during Aryna Sabalenka's match against Paula Badosa, the moment came full circle for his life. “He is here because he has earned it,” said Jean-Patrick Reydellet, head of Roland Garros officials.
Feron has been here before, a key figure in the Roland Garros officiating team as part of the women's final in 2018 and men's final in 2021. He was there on the baseline, following every rotation of the ball. She was going to give it her all until the Paris Olympics, spending 35 weekends a year perfecting her craft. Then, in November 2022, she was the victim of a brutal attack and since then she has been in a wheelchair.
But just under two years later, he's back on the show floor, doing what he loves more than anything. “I want to be an inspiration to everyone,” Feron told ESPN.
Feron has always loved tennis. He used to play this sport, but then tried refereeing when he was 14 years old. He progressed through the badges and achieved the highest referee qualification in 2021 – the International White Badge for Refereeing. He was a regular on the circuit, as a line judge at the Monte Carlo Masters, the Paris Masters and Roland Garros.
But then came the night of November 20, 2022. He was attacked in Poitiers, a city about 340 kilometers southwest of Paris. The violence left him in a coma for a month and affected his neurological abilities. “It's too painful; I don't want to talk about it,” Feron said. “I'd rather not do it and leave it behind.”
He spent a year in a rehabilitation center in Nantes, with relentless physiotherapy and speech training. After a year there, she moved back with her family to Les Sables d'Olonne. And throughout rehab, she held on to this dream of getting back to doing what she loved to do.
“I always hoped to get involved with tennis again,” he said.
Meanwhile, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) remained in contact with him. They invited him to Yannick Noah Day, a day of charity matches at Roland Garros, to see how he would do. “He struggled, but he couldn't work last year,” Reydellet said. “But when he saw it, it was a big improvement to catch up to him…it was good training.”
This year he returned to the circuit a little more, in a tournament in Poitiers and in a Challenger in Bordeaux, and his scores earned him another opportunity to be a linesman at Roland Garros. (Line judges receive marks for “good technique, good voice, good image and good decision,” Reydellet said.)
“I had a good tournament and improved my eyes to see the ball,” Ferón said. “I had eye contact with the ball. What I lack is my voice, because I need to call loud and clear. I don't have this level of voice to call the balls.”
While his voice echoed in Bordeaux, the noise of Chatrier drowned it out. At Roland Garros he carries a microphone. Any call is then transmitted from the microphone on the lapel of his sweater directly to the referee.
He started on the outside courts at Roland Garros, but after good grades he advanced to the third show court at Simone Mathieu. She said the trip there from the other side of the field is “a good workout.” Then came his return to Chatrier on Saturday to clinch victory for Sabalenka. He was also there as part of the team for Novak Djokovic's morning match against Lorenzo Musetti.
Reydellet said that Feron has not lost any of his instincts and his ability to make the most precise decisions. Feron interrupted him. “All officials can always continue to improve.” Feron was part of the team that presided over the mixed doubles final on Thursday at Chatrier, but she still dreams of making the team for the women's or men's singles final. “I hope so, but it's not my decision,” she said.
He has already captured some fans in this tournament. Djokovic saw a tweet about him at the beginning of the tournament and shared his support.
On Thursday, when Feron spoke to ESPN, his face lit up upon seeing Djokovic's comments. “Ah yes! It's very good, very good. I didn't know this information.” But then came the clarification: “I can't tell you if he's a good player or not, because I'm a referee.”
