[An unpublished testimony at the microphone of Jacques Vendroux for Europe 1] In 1972, a group of American tennis players touring Africa stopped in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Among them is the legend Arthur Ashe, the only black man to have ever won a Grand Slam tournament at the time, whom Yannick Noah has admired from afar since he was young. More than an idol, a role model. On this day, these tennis pros exchange balls with the children of the local tennis club. Yannick Noah was the only black child in the group. All eyes are on him when he comes forward last to "face" his hero. What Arthur Ashe does not know then is that at the age of eleven, Yannick Noah is already the best tennis player in Africa... In episode 2 of "Yannick Noah, between you and me", Yannick Noah looks back on a key moment of his childhood, his young years of "future champion": his meeting with the one who will become his mentor. For the 40th anniversary of Yannick Noah's victory at Roland-Garros, Europe 1, official radio of the tournament, went to Cameroon to meet the legend of French tennis. He agreed to confide as never before about his childhood dreams, his memories of champion and his new life in Africa during an exceptional interview at the microphone of Jacques Vendroux. Tags: Roland-Garros - tennis - Grand Slam - Africa - Cameroon - Etoudi - tournament - Yaoundé

2023-05-30T03:11:47.469Z

Highlights: In 1972, a group of American tennis players touring Africa stopped in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Among them is the legend Arthur Ashe, the only black man to have ever won a Grand Slam tournament at the time. At the age of eleven, Yannick Noah is already the best tennis player in Africa. He agreed to confide as never before about his childhood dreams, his memories of champion and his new life in Africa during an exceptional interview at the microphone of Jacques Vendroux.

[An unpublished testimony at the microphone of Jacques Vendroux for Europe 1] In 1972, a group of American tennis players touring Africa stopped in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Among them is the legend Arthur Ashe, the only black man to have ever won a Grand Slam tournament at the time, whom Yannick Noah has admired from afar since he was young. More than an idol, a role model. On this day, these tennis pros exchange balls with the children of the local tennis club. Yannick Noah was the only black child in the group. All eyes are on him as he comes last to "face" his hero. What Arthur Ashe does not know then is that at the age of eleven, Yannick Noah is already the best tennis player in Africa... In episode 2 of " Yannick Noah, between you and me", Yannick Noah looks back on a key moment of his childhood, his young years of "future champion" : his meeting with the one who will become his mentor. For the 40th anniversary of Yannick Noah's victory at Roland-Garros, Europe 1, official radio of the tournament, went to Cameroon to meet the legend of French tennis. He agreed to confide as never before about his childhood dreams, his memories of champion and his new life in Africa during an exceptional interview at the microphone of Jacques Vendroux.Tags: Roland-Garros - tennis - Grand Slam - Africa - Cameroon - Etoudi - tournament - Yaoundé  Credits: "Yannick Noah, between you and me". An exceptional testimony collected by Jacques Vendroux in Cameroon for Europe 1.  Production Europe 1 Studio : Sébastien Guyot  Production and artistic direction: Xavier Jolly  Communication coordination: Kelly Decroix Distribution and writing: Eloïse Bertil with the editorial staff of Europe1.fr Visual artistic direction: Sidonie Mangin  Photo credits: ©BENJAMIN AUGER/PARIS MATCH/SCOOP  Europe 1 Archives: Sylvaine Denis, Laetitia Casanova, Benoît Muckensturm