." I only won and also I desire thumps," Croatian ping pong celebrity Donna Vekiu0107 declares Friday mid-day of the US Open. She's merely beaten Peyton Stearns-- and after stretching and also bathing-- her following quit pre-press conference is the petit Julien Farel pop-up salon hidden inside Queens's Arthur Ashe Coliseum. "I had been hanging around all season to find Julian as well as receive whacks encouraged by Margot Robbie." Greater than two decades earlier, hair stylist Julien Farel moved toward the USA Ping Pong Association along with a tip: a beauty salon where tennis players could pop in for a haircut, design, or yet another type of self-care during the US Open, among the absolute most high-intensity competitors of their year. "It took them five years to okay me," Farel, currently 16 years in to the salon relationship at the Open, informs me with a smile. "I was actually quite relentless considering that I understood this would certainly be a perk for a lot of athletes. And I was right. Today, they await this moment to come in as well as acquire a haircut." Many of the sport's biggest titles have rested inside this beauty shop, which is only available throughout the two full weeks of the competitors: "I cut Rafael Nadal's hair coming from long to short in 2010, that occurred on this site as well as it was a major deal. Everyone from Billie Jean King to [Martina] Navratilova has actually sat in these office chairs. Our experts possessed Coco here right after she won in 2015's event, as well." Vekiu0107 and her brand-new booms, fresh cut by Julien Farel.Photographed through Caroline Tompkins.