." I merely gained and I wish raps," Croatian ping pong star Donna Vekiu0107 proclaims Friday afternoon of the United States Open. She's simply defeated Peyton Stearns-- as well as after flexing and also showering-- her upcoming deter pre-press event is actually the petit Julien Farel pop-up salon concealed inside Queens's Arthur Ashe Stadium. "I had been actually waiting all period to view Julian and also receive bangs encouraged by Margot Robbie." Greater than 20 years back, hair stylist Julien Farel approached the United States Ping Pong Affiliation with a suggestion: a salon where ping pong players could possibly come by for a hairstyle, style, or an additional type of self-care during the US Open, among the absolute most high-intensity competitors of their year. "It took them five years to say yes to me," Farel, currently 16 years into the beauty shop alliance at the Open, tells me with a smile. "I was actually really persistent because I understood this would be actually a perk for several professional athletes. As well as I corrected. Right now, they wait on this instant to find in as well as get a haircut." Many of the sport's greatest titles have rested inside this beauty parlor, which is just open during the 2 weeks of the competitors: "I cut Rafael Nadal's hair coming from lengthy to short in 2010, that occurred on this site as well as it was a huge deal. Everyone coming from Billie Jean King to [Martina] Navratilova has partaken these chairs. Our company possessed Coco listed here right after she gained in 2013's tournament, as well." Vekiu0107 and her new bangs, fresh reduced through Julien Farel.Photographed by Caroline Tompkins.