13th French Open in polo: six teams fight for a prestigious title
The men’s French Open is about to enter its second week and each of the teams has played two out of five matches. Two teams are currently undefeated: the Germans of Tom Tailor as well as the French of La Quinta. The latter has a small advantage, as it has already participated in the Gold Cup of Deauville in August, and placed third with the same constellation. We started off well in this French Open, admits Dario Musso, the pillar of La Quinta, but that does not necessarily mean we’re the audiences favourite. At this point, each of the six teams is still able to make it to the final and even if we know each other well, the other teams have the will and also good reasons for winning the Open. The very same team won the French Open in 2011, back then under the name of “Polo de Deauvilleâ€.
Having lost its second match against the Belgian team Lebeau-Courally by one goal in spite of a 2/0 in the last chukka, the team of France (“l’équipe de Franceâ€) will play its third match against the Swiss Marquard Media on Thursday. It will be a decisive match, as the French are not allowed to lose one more time; they have indeed shown some very good dispositions in their first two matches. Yesterday they were only missing a bit of good luck in their penalties. The four players make a very nice French team that needs support on Thursday starting at 6.00 pm, then again on Sunday when facing Quinta! Entry will be free.
2th Ladies Chopard French Open
Kick-off to the ladies’ Chopard French Open was on Thursday by a victory of Why Not with Hazel Jackson, and among the seven participating teams is also the current holder of the title, Tom Tailor Centre Roissy Porsche, who will play its first match of the Open on Friday at 5.00 pm. The pillar of this French-Argentinean-German-mixed team is Lia Salvo, who remains prudent: “It will be more difficult this year, as the tournament is at a higher stage. The French players have obviously improved and the tournament attracted new faces, particularly English and German women, who are very strong players. Of the 28 female players, 9 are indeed British, including the 7-goaler Hazel Jackson and also Lia Salvo’s co-player in England, where they were victorious in all the tournaments that they played in together. In this Chopard Open they will be adversaries, which might become interesting. The confrontation between the two leading players of this tournament takes place on Sunday at 4.15 pm.