." I just gained and I yearn for thumps," Croatian ping pong superstar Donna Vekiu0107 announces Friday mid-day of the US Open. She's just trumped Peyton Stearns-- and after extending as well as bathing-- her following deter pre-press conference is actually the petit Julien Farel pop-up salon hidden inside Queens's Arthur Ashe Coliseum. "I had actually been standing by all time to see Julian and also obtain whacks influenced through Margot Robbie." More than two decades back, hair stylist Julien Farel approached the United States Ping Pong Affiliation along with a concept: a hair salon where tennis players might come over for a hairstyle, type, or another kind of self-care during the United States Open, some of the most high-intensity competitors of their year. "It took them 5 years to say yes to me," Farel, currently 16 years right into the hair salon relationship at the Open, informs me along with a smile. "I was actually very constant due to the fact that I knew this would be a perk for numerous sportsmens. And also I corrected. Now, they wait on this moment to find in and also receive a hairstyle." Most of the sport's biggest names have sat inside this hair salon, which is actually only available during the 2 full weeks of the competitors: "I reduced Rafael Nadal's hair from lengthy to quick in 2010, that happened right here and it was actually a large offer. Everyone coming from Billie Jean King to [Martina] Navratilova has actually beinged in these chairs. Our experts possessed Coco below straight after she gained last year's competition, too." Vekiu0107 and also her brand-new bangs, freshly cut through Julien Farel.Photographed through Caroline Tompkins.