'I always hoped for return' - line judge back on court after coma

When you inquire Lucas Feron to talk nan thoroughfare onslaught which near him successful a coma, nan young Frenchman bows his head.

"It is excessively painful, I don’t want to speak astir it. I for illustration not to and time off it behind," he told BBC Sport.

What nan statement judge wants to talk astir is nan coming - becoming nan first wheelchair personification to officiate a French Open lucifer connected Court Philippe Chatrier - and nan future.

Feron, 28, returned to Roland Garros' centre tribunal erstwhile he called nan lines during nan women's third-round lucifer betwixt 2nd seed Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa connected Saturday.

He was backmost later that time - and into nan early hours of Sunday greeting - for Novak Djokovic's late-night title against Lorenzo Musetti.

On Thursday, he officiated successful nan mixed doubles final.

"I want to beryllium an inspiration for everyone. I want to time off my handicap down me," said Feron, who will besides activity connected nan Paris 2024 Paralympics later this year.

"Every time we statement judges person to execute connected nan court. If we want to spell connected nan show tribunal we person to do our job.

"All that matters is nan chair umpire conscionable needs a bully decision."

Feron is an international-standard charismatic whose promising profession was halted erstwhile he was attacked successful nan French metropolis of Poitiers successful November 2022.

Local media reported, external Feron was dragged retired of his car by a chap motorist and violently assaulted successful what was described arsenic an unprovoked attack.

Feron was, by each accounts, simply successful nan incorrect spot astatine nan incorrect time.

He spent 1 period successful a coma afterwards.

After waking up, he spent much than a twelvemonth successful a rehabilitation portion successful Nantes.

During this clip is erstwhile he started dreaming of restarting his profession successful a occupation - and athletics - he loves.

"I ever hoped," said Feron, who now lives pinch his parents successful his hometown of Les Sables-d’Olonne.

Before nan attack, he called nan lines successful nan 2018 French Open women's last and 2021 men's final, positive prestigious ATP finals successful Monte Carlo and Bercy.

In 2021, he was awarded achromatic badge position - putting him successful nan 2nd tier of apical world officials.

It has been an arduous roadworthy backmost for Feron, whose advancement is being cautiously managed by French Tennis Federation's officiating bosses.

Last year, Feron returned to Roland Garros successful an accumulation lucifer during nan Yannick Noah kindness day.

This year, he worked astatine an ATP Challenge arena successful Bordeaux, which he said helped "improve his eyes" connected nan ball.

His level was deemed bully capable for nan French Open, starting connected nan extracurricular courts of nan main-draw events earlier being promoted to Simonne Mathieu - nan 3rd show-court - and past Chatrier.

Feedback astir a statement judge's capacity comes from a method supervisor assigned to each tribunal and nan chair umpire of nan match.

"We request to person fantabulous officiating connected each courts, that’s nan first point for us," Jean-Patrick Reydellet, nan French Open's main of officiating, said.

"Lucas is location because he deserves it. Not because he is simply a wheelchair official. For us, this is very important."

Feron's value of reside is not astatine nan aforesaid level it was earlier nan attack.

As good arsenic having physio for his injuries 4 times a week, he continues to activity pinch a reside therapist.

Therefore, he uses a microphone headset connected tribunal to amplify his calls to nan chair umpire.

"He didn’t suffer what he tin see. It’s conscionable nan sound which needs to readjust," said Reydellet.

Seeing a statement judge successful a wheelchair astatine a Grand Slam for nan first clip has brought attention.

Djokovic hailed Feron connected Twitter (formerly X), pinch nan 24-time awesome champion saying it was "wonderful" to spot him working.

"Very cool, very cool. I did not cognize this," said Feron, who looked amazed and collapsed into a wide smile.

Then, arsenic ever, his professionalism kicked successful and he stressed his impartiality.

"But I cannot show you if he is simply a bully subordinate aliases not – because I americium an official! I tin opportunity I deliberation he is simply a bully person."