Entertainer on the pitch and on stage: Yannick Noah turns 60

When Yannick Noah took over as French Davis Cup captain for the second time in 2015, he surprised the tennis world. He, who was considered an entertainment expert and a colorful bird on the global tour during his active time, suddenly relied on authority and discipline. “We have to agree on a basic concept. Anyone who violates this is out – without prior warning,” said the head of the French national tennis team at the time.

Nobody was kicked out, on the contrary: in 2017, under Noah's guidance, France won the most important team trophy in tennis for the tenth time and for the first time in 16 years. But it's not just because of his sporting merits that Noah, who turns 60 on Monday, is still considered one of the most popular French people in his home country. First an athlete, then a singer Today, however, younger people in particular associate the son of a former professional footballer from Cameroon and a French teacher less with the Coupe des Mousquetaires that Noah received for his triumph at the French Open in 1983, but with pop chansons such as “Aux arbres citoyens,” “ Saga Africa” or “Métisse”.

The father of five followed his career on the pitch with a no less dazzling career as a singer. Years ago in Reader's Digest magazine he compared both extremes and said: “You can't enjoy a tennis match. You are under extreme tension.” The emotions on stage can only be partially equated with this: “They are not as strong, they are gentler. But they last much longer.”

Since his resignation as Davis Cup team boss two years ago, things have become significantly quieter around the man with the distinctive dreadlocks, who has also advised the French first division football team Paris Saint-Germain and the Cameroon national football team and has worked for various aid organizations committed.

A few days ago, however, Noah spoke up in the debate about the lack of appointments in tennis due to the corona pandemic. Noah said in the program “Tout le sport” on France 3 that he was skeptical about the planned hosting of the French Open in September. “It will be complicated,” said Noah – and waited with one in the event of a tournament without spectators Original, not entirely serious, but perfectly spanning his life suggestion: Every player should come onto the pitch with a DJ, said Noah and said with a smile: “And when a player scores a point, the DJ can play noises. Either music or applause.”

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Entertainer on the pitch and on stage: Yannick Noah turns 60

Yannick Noah was the last French tennis player to win the French Open in 1983. In 2017 he captained the Davis Cup team to the title. But the son of a Cameroonian ex-football professional didn't just make a career on the pitch. He turns 60 on Monday.

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