." I merely won as well as I prefer whacks," Croatian ping pong superstar Donna Vekiu0107 proclaims Friday mid-day of the United States Open. She's only beaten Peyton Stearns-- as well as after extending and also showering-- her next quit pre-press event is the petit Julien Farel pop-up salon hidden inside Queens's Arthur Ashe Coliseum. "I had actually been actually standing by all time to see Julian and obtain bangs motivated through Margot Robbie." Greater than 20 years back, hairdresser Julien Farel approached the United States Ping Pong Association along with a suggestion: a beauty shop where ping pong gamers could come over for a haircut, design, or even one more type of self-care in the course of the US Open, some of one of the most high-intensity competitors of their year. "It took them five years to okay me," Farel, right now 16 years into the beauty shop partnership at the Open, informs me with a smile. "I was actually extremely persistent due to the fact that I recognized this would certainly be a perk for many athletes. And I corrected. Today, they wait on this second to come in and also obtain a haircut." A lot of the sporting activity's largest names have actually rested inside this beauty parlor, which is merely available during the course of the two weeks of the competitors: "I reduced Rafael Nadal's hair from long to quick in 2010, that occurred on this site and also it was actually a huge deal. Everyone from Billie Jean Master to [Martina] Navratilova has actually partaken these seats. We possessed Coco right here straight after she gained in 2013's tournament, as well." Vekiu0107 and also her brand new booms, recently cut by Julien Farel.Captured On Film through Caroline Tompkins.