." I simply gained as well as I yearn for thumps," Croatian tennis star Donna Vekiu0107 proclaims Friday mid-day of the US Open. She's only beaten Peyton Stearns-- as well as after extending and bathing-- her upcoming quit pre-press association is the petit Julien Farel pop-up salon hidden inside Queens's Arthur Ashe Stadium. "I had been actually hanging around all time to see Julian and also obtain thumps inspired through Margot Robbie." Much more than twenty years back, hairstylist Julien Farel approached the USA Ping Pong Organization with a suggestion: a salon where ping pong gamers could possibly come over for a haircut, design, or even yet another form of self-care during the United States Open, some of the best high-intensity competitions of their year. "It took all of them five years to say yes to me," Farel, right now 16 years right into the hair salon partnership at the Open, tells me with a smile. "I was quite consistent because I understood this would certainly be actually a perk for several professional athletes. As well as I corrected. Now, they await this minute to find in as well as receive a haircut." Much of the sporting activity's biggest titles have rested inside this hair salon, which is actually merely open during both full weeks of the competitors: "I cut Rafael Nadal's hair from long to short in 2010, that occurred right here and it was a huge offer. Everybody from Billie Jean Master to [Martina] Navratilova has actually sat in these office chairs. Our team had Coco below right after she won in 2015's tournament, too." Vekiu0107 and also her brand-new bangs, newly cut by Julien Farel.Photographed through Caroline Tompkins.